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Nehra for Mumbai Indians, Mishra for Delhi

Ashish Nehra, the left-arm fast bowler, has signed up with the Indian Premier League's Mumbai franchise

Cricinfo staff
14-Mar-2008

Ashish Nehra: Back in action? © Getty Images
 
Ashish Nehra, the left-arm fast bowler, has signed up with the Indian Premier League's Mumbai franchise. Nehra, who last played for India in September 2005, didn't play for Delhi in this season's Ranji Trophy after suffering an ankle injury and, though reportedly fit for the Ranji one-day tournament, which began in February, didn't feature in any of the matches.
He joins a fast-bowling attack that already has Shaun Pollock, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Mumbai's Abhishek Nayar. Nehra will be expected to play a key role for Mumbai Indians, given that only four overseas players can feature in the playing XI.
Injuries to Malinga and Fernando, which put them out of Sri Lanka's tour to the West Indies, also puts them in doubt for the start of the IPL. Malinga is suffering from a knee injury, while Fernando is recovering from ankle surgery.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Daredevils have signed a second specialist spinner, after Daniel Vettori, in Amit Mishra, the Haryana legspinner. Mishra was one of the leading wicket-takers in the Ranji Trophy one-dayers, with 11 wickets from five games at 17.45.
Mishra, who played three ODIs for India in 2003, was also Haryana's leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy Plate League, with 27 scalps at 15.29 in five matches. New Zealand's tour of England will result in Vettori missing most of the Delhi Daredevils matches, so Mishra will be a specialist spin option for Delhi.