Birthday special: Pragyan Ojha – Top three Test spells by the left-arm spinner

Pragyan Ojha bamboozled several batsmen during his playing days. Ojha could get the ball to drift in the air, and also extract sharp turn off the surface. He represented India in 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and 6 T20Is. While he scalped 113 wickets in white flannels, he picked up 21 wickets in ODI cricket.

In the T20I format of the game, the left-arm spinner picked up 10 wickets. As Ojha turns 35 today, let us take a look at the 3 best spells from his career.

5/45 vs England (Tests)

In November 2012, Pragyan Ojha produced an excellent spell with the ball, and the England batsmen had no answers to it. India batted first and posted a total of 521 on the board. In reply, England were bowled out for a paltry total of 191, with Ojha acting as the wrecker in chief.

In the 22.2 overs that he bowled, Ojha scalped 5 wickets and gave away only 45 runs as well. England were asked to follow on, and they were bowled out for 406, setting India a target of 77 in the second innings. India romped past the target with 9 wickets to spare.

6/47 vs West Indies (Tests)

In this match, the West Indies batted first and piled up a total of 590 on the board, with Darren Bravo scoring 166. India replied with a total of 482. And, it was in the second innings that the West Indies suffered a massive batting collapse, courtesy of Pragyan Ojha.

The left-arm spinner spun a web around the West Indian batters, and scalped a six-wicket haul, leaking 47 runs in his 27 overs, as the Windies were bowled out for 134. India needed to chase 243, and they ended their second innings with their scorecard reading 242/9, as the match ended in a pulsating draw.

5/40 vs West Indies (Tests)

Pragyan Ojha managed to grab some spotlight in this famous match with his incredible performance with the ball. West Indies batted first in this Test match and were bowled out for just 182.

And, Ojha flummoxed the opposition with the red cherry in hand, picking up 5 wickets in 11.2 overs, giving away 40 runs. India replied with a total of 495, with both Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma slamming centuries. The West Indies put up a shoddy performance in the second innings as well and were bowled out for just 187, as India beat their opponents by an innings and 126 runs. Ojha scalped 5 wickets in the second innings too and won the Player of the Match award for his sensational performance.