Nehra wants to slip into Zaheer's shoes

New Delhi:

Back in reckoning after being on the sidelines for more than three years, injury-prone pacer Ashish Nehra said despite being short of match practice, he is ready to lead the Indian attack in the absence of regular spearhead Zaheer Khan.

"In the absence of Zaheer Khan I am ready to be the lead bowler. I may have been out for over three years but people must realise I am a very experienced and have been playing cricket for the last 10 years. I am excited and hope there are no injuries," Nehra said.

Nehra made a comeback to the Indian Team after four years with a successful ODI tour of West Indies where he took six wickets from three matches to be the leading wicket-taker of the series.

"I was happy with my performance in the West Indies tour. I still feel I am bowling at about 80-85 percent of my capability. I am back in rhythm and will soon reach 100 per cent," he said.

Nehra said his stint with the Indian Premier League, where he played for Delhi Daredevils, was crucial in making his resurgence possible.

"IPL gave an opportunity to make a comeback into the Indian team after more than three years. IPL is as good as international cricket. Every team has about eight-nine international cricketers so the standard is really high", he told NDTV.

"It is a good platform for anybody who has been out of the team and wants to make a comeback into the national squad," Nehra said.

Looking back at his time on the sidelines, Nehra said he has been unlucky with injuries all through his career.

"Some of my injuries were freak injuries but name any Indian fast bowler who has played non-stop for the last 18 months.

"These things happen in international cricket... I know I have missed four years of my prime but I am confident that I still have another 4-5 years of good cricket left in me," he said.

Nehra said he was hoping to get the selectors' nod for the Champions Trophy in South Africa scheduled in September.

"I am looking forward to the Champions Trophy especially because it is in South Africa. I get a different level of confidence when I go to Johannesburg or Durban.

"I have always bowled well there and hope to do the same this time around too," he said.