I’d like to partner Bhajji, says Ojha

For young left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, India’s second Test against Sri Lanka at the  Green Park in Kanpur was the cause for double celebration. India registered their 100th Test win and Ojha returned match figures of 4/73 — not too bad for a debutant.

“It was a dream debut. Playing international cricket was always my dream and being a part of India’s 100th Test win was something very special which I never expected,” Ojha told DNA from Hyderabad. The 23-year-old hopes to do better in the third and final Test at the Brabourne Stadium from Wednesday.

“We want to win the series. We did well in the second Test and hope to wrap it up with a 2-0 win at the historical venue — Brabourne Stadium. I am very keen to play there,” added the Hyderabad spinner.

The Indian team lacks a quality second spinner who could support Harbhajan at the other end. “I would like to do that. I want to keep the batsmen under check so that it becomes easy for Harbhajan to get wickets. Bhajji can attack and I would be happy to support him. I want to stick to the basics — line and length with good flight and try nothing extraordinary,” he added.

Ojha admitted that he found it difficult to believe at first that he was included in the playing XI. For the record, Ojha got a look in after leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s lacklustre show in the first Test at Ahmedabad.

“There was no pressure but a certain kind of nervousness when I made my debut. I did not think much and planned to bowl the way I bowled in the first class matches. My aim is to cement a place in the Test side and improve as much as I can,” he said.