Pragyan Ojha: The promising left-arm spinner forgotten too soon
There’ve been many talents who made a robust start to their international career. But with the passage of time, they somehow failed to achieve longevity. After dazzling in the early phase of their career, many players succumb to expectations and fizzle out in the long run. One of them has been former Indian cricketer, Pragyan Ojha.
The rise
A left-arm spinner who squeezed his way in the side during the fading phase of Anil Kumble, Ojha had an instant impact with the ball. He even broke into the top five bowlers in the ICC Test bowlers’ Rankings. Jumping in the side alongside the R Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja duo, Ojha was touted to be India’s mainstay in the spin department.
But as fate would have it, his international career faded within a year. Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match in 2013 against West Indies turned out to be Ojha’s last appearance for India too. Despite taking 10 wickets in his last Test, Ojha could not retain his place in the national side. He eventually retired in February 2020, drawing curtains on what could’ve been a glorious international career.
It’s time I move on to the next phase of my life. The love and support of each and every individual will always remain with me and motivate me all the time ?? pic.twitter.com/WoK0WfnCR7
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 21, 2020
33-year-old Ojha left the biggest stage after failing to make a comeback. But his bowling stats, especially in the traditional format, speak for the class that he possessed. The left-arm spinner scalped 113 wickets in 24 Tests at an economy of 2.68, including 7 five-wicket hauls. With the white ball, Ojha plucked 21 ODI wickets and 10 T20I scalps.
The decline
The first roadblock in Ojha’s international career came in 2014 when his bowling action was found illegal, resulting in him being banned from bowling in competitive cricket. In an interview, the cricketer revealed that he felt like a criminal during that time as he was called a chucker. After seeing Ojha’s action through biometrics, it was revealed that he would go wider than usual to create an angle with his left arm. His action was deemed wrong as his hand was coming from behind the head almost. Ojha remodelled his action within just 22 days but it didn’t matter.
Ojha scalped 100 Test wickets — the fastest by an Indian left-arm spinner. At his peak, he was one of the most dangerous spinners in the subcontinent. he did clear the test and was allowed to resume his bowling in 2015. But an international comeback was going to be an arduous task. India is a country where there’s always someone waiting in the ranks to get into the national side.
During his peak, Ojha also delivered impressive performances for Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League. He is the first and one of the two spinners to ever win the Purple Cap in the competition. Under the leadership of Adam Gilchrist, Ojha also became an IPL champion.
The glorious path was suddenly interrupted by a suspected illegal action. A year after what was his last Test (against West Indies in 2015), Ojha was barred from bowling. He did make a comeback by scalping five against Australia A in 2015, raising hopes of an international return. However, things faded out eventually and Ojha never managed to pave his way back into the Indian team.
