Birthday special: Pragyan Ojha – 3 best spells in international cricket

Pragyan Ojha was one of the crafty spinners India had in the period from 2009 to 2013 and his left-arm orthodox spin did prove to be valuable. After a brilliant IPL season with the Deccan Chargers in 2008 and 2009, Ojha grabbed a spot in the Indian side and was a specialist in Tests. He finished with 113 wickets in 24 Tests at an average of 30.26 and had five-wicket hauls to his name. The former India spinner is celebrating his 37th birthday today (September 5) and here are the 3 best spells from him in international cricket.

4 for 21 against Bangladesh, 2009 T20 World Cup

In the 2009 T20 World Cup Group fixtures in Nottingham, India took on Bangladesh and the men in blue posted a big score of 180 for 5 in the first innings. Bangladesh fell 25 runs short of the run chase, and the man who created the destruction was India’s Ojha. The left-arm spinner bagged 4 for 21 in his four-over spell and picked up the Player of the Match award.

6 for 72 against West Indies, 2011

In the 2011 home series against West Indies, Ojha had a dream run with the ball and he picked up his second-best figures in Tests at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. The left-arm spinner bowled 34.6 overs in the first innings and finished with 6 for 72 with nine maidens in his spell. He picked up just one wicket in the second innings, as India went on to win the Test by 5 wickets.

6 for 47 against West Indies, 2011

In the same series against West Indies in the final Test at Wankhede, Ojha picked up his best figures in Tests in an innings. While he could pick up just one wicket in the first innings, Ojha came back well in the second innings and finished with 6 for 47 in his 27-over spell. He and Ashwin cleaned up the West Indies batting order, however, the match was drawn with India needing just one run to win and one wicket in hand.