NEW DELHI: Disappointed at being ignored for five years, veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra said it is absolutely imperative for him to perform well in the upcoming Twenty20 series in Australia to have any shot at selection for the World Twenty20.

The 37-year-old last played for India in the semi-final of the victorious 2011 World Cup campaign against Pakistan. After missing the final due to a finger injury, he was overlooked for nearly five years before being recalled for the three-match T20 series against Australia starting January 26 in Adelaide.

He made the return to the Indian team on the back of an impressive IPL season, where he finished fourth on the wicket takers list with 22 scalps from 16 games. “I was surprised when they were not picking me for the last 2-3 years to be honest. Better late than never, hopefully I can do well, I am just working hard,” Nehra, who has 157 wickets to his kitty from 120 ODIs and 13 scalps from eight T20 Internationals, told ‘ESPNCricinfo’. ‘Can’t buy experience’ Whatever is gone is gone, I am just looking forward and hopefully everything will go my way,” he said. The injury-prone Delhi pacer said he wants to double up as a mentor to India’s emerging crop of fast bowlers on his return to the national side. “This is a short tour, but whatever little I can help the youngsters, I will. If I can play till the World T20, I will definitely look at that job, I have done it for CSK and I really enjoyed it. Most of the bowlers have different strengths, but you can’t buy experience. “People say T20 is a young man’s game, all those theories I don’t believe in. Age is just a number for me. If you can keep yourself fit, you can keep playing,” he said.PTI