Pragyan Ojha may have been in the news of late for his bowling action, but the left-arm spinner, who bowled India to a victory in the last Test match he played, is confident of coming back to the international stage.
“There is plenty of cricket coming up at home for the Indian team after the World Cup, so I am very hopeful of returning to the Test squad,” Ojha told The Hindu here on Saturday. “I am happy that I am getting the opportunity to bowl in so many domestic matches.”
He admitted he was disappointed when he was not picked for India after becoming Man of the Match in the Mumbai Test against West Indies last year. In Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match, he had taken five wickets in either innings to finish with 10 for 89.
“It felt great that I could make such a contribution in a Test win for Sachin,” said the Hyderabad bowler on the eve of the Ranji Trophy match against Kerala. “I had grown up watching him winning matches for India. And I had received my Test cap from him.”
That was in 2009 against Sri Lanka at Kanpur. He went on to take 113 wickets from 24 Tests. He has also had remarkable success in IPL. He was part of two IPL-winning sides and won the purple cap in 2010, with 21 wickets. “I always wanted to excel in all formats of the game,” he said. “I was lucky that I could play under two excellent captains in the IPL — Sachin (Mumbai Indians) and Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers). They had faith in me.
“It is important for a spin bowler to enjoy the confidence of his captain. M.S. Dhoni too is a great captain.”