I enjoy bowling with Ashwin: Pragyan Ojha

Pragyan Ojha, who picked up 13 wickets in the just-concluded Test series against New Zealand, tells Taus Rizvi he was prepared to bowl with the new ball

Thirteen wickets in two Tests. How do you rate your performance?
To be frank, I don’t believe in rating myself. I have done what my team wanted me to do. I am very happy with the (2-0) result. Winning back-to-back Tests is really satisfying. I am looking forward to the next series.

How did you go about your job?
When you are playing for your country, that too as a young member of the side, you have a lot of responsibilities. Shouldering those responsibilities makes you feel proud. The New Zealand series was important because I had to build up the confidence before taking on England and Australia. I am really happy with my performance and hope to carry on the momentum.

Are you aware of the fact that you became the first Indian spinner to bowl with the new ball after ML Jaisimha in 1969?
I did. Bowling with the new ball is not easy. You have to relax and focus a lot as the ball doesn’t do much. You have to bowl in the right areas. MSD (skipper Dhoni) had confidence in me and that’s why he gave me the new ball. I was prepared for it. I have been bowling with the new ball in the nets, too.

You have opened the bowling in limited-overs cricket too. How different are the experiences?
It is very different. In limited-overs cricket, the batsman will come at you from the word go, but in Tests you have to be patient enough to create opportunities because the batsman is in a defensive mode. Basically, you have to force him to make a mistake. You have to frustrate the batsman even if the ball isn’t doing much.

Were you surprised when the captain gave you the new ball?
I wasn’t. I was prepared for it and MSD had told me after the toss that I would be opening the bowling. So I was not nervous. In fact, I enjoyed it.

You and R Ashwin are hunting in a pair now...
We are from the same zone and know each other since our under-15 days. We have played against each other as well together. It’s great to bowl with him. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It has been a process, basically. If there is something, he comes up to me or I go to him. There is a good understanding between us and I enjoy bowling with him.

You have been playing for India for close to four years now. But you haven’t got too many opportunities despite doing well...
VVS Laxman once told me that in life nothing comes easy. He said you must always put the team ahead of yourself. If I do well and win games for India, things will automatically come to me.

So what’s in store for you?
I will be playing domestic cricket (Moin-ud-Dowla Trophy in Hyderabad, followed by the Irani Trophy tie). I want to be prepared for the England series.