Cricket Pulse

He may have been benched during the Test series against Sri Lanka, but Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is not disappointed and remains confident of getting a dream debut against Australia next month despite his inexperience.

Ojha said the Australian batsmen, despite their known vulnerability against spin, will be a challenge for him if he is selected for the four Test series starting on October 9.

“It’s a dream for anybody to play Tests and a debut against Australia will be just perfect. I have no experience against Australians but I know their weakness against spin bowling, I’ll hope to do well if given a chance. It will be surely a big moment for me,” Ojha said.

Picked for the Rest of India squad against Delhi in the Irani Trophy, the only proper practice game ahead of the tough four match Test series against the world champions, Ojha said he would try and impress the selectors in the practice game.

“At the moment, my focus is to do well in the Irani Trophy and ensure my place in the squad for the Test series. I don’t want to hurry things up but to go step by step,” Ojha said, referring to the September 24-28 Irani Trophy tie vs Delhi to be held in Vadodara.

“It’s not at all disappointing having remained in the dressing room after not being picked for the playing XI,” said Ojha when asked about the India-Sri Lanka Test series.

“The dressing room atmosphere itself is very inspiring. I know my chance will come, I’ve to wait for the chance and make use of the opportunity when it comes.”

The upcoming spinner, who made his ODI debut in the June tri-series in Bangladesh, said his experience of sharing the dressing room with Indian Test captain Anil Kumble and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was fruitful.

“The dressing room atmosphere is such that you get to learn so many things. And with Anil (Kumble) and Harbhajan (Singh) around, I’ve become more matured and confident spinner now.”

“Now, I’m more confident and certainly won’t be under any kind of pressure, if I have to bowl against the Australians,” the Hyderabad cricketer said.

If picked in the playing XI against Australia, Ojha will become the third Orissa cricketer, after Debashish Mohanty and Shiv Sundar Das, to play a Test for India.