Colombo: When Wriddhiman Saha’s freak injury gave Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha a chance to play, he said he would be under pressure to perform if he makes the playing XI squad in the decisive third Test against Sri Lanka starting Friday.
“There is a little bit of pressure yes, because I have got this chance after a very long time. But I am not thinking about it. I have waited very long and I am just looking to enjoy my game and enjoy this moment,” Ojha said in anticipation of his coveted Test debut.
“It was an absolutely amazing feeling to be called up for this Test. It felt really good. I am preparing well, and playing against Australia-A last month was good. So I am in a good shape and fingers crossed, I will perform well,” he added.
Ojha played a one one-day international cricket match versus Sri Lanka and T20 Two Internationals, in 2010, in a short limited overs tour of Zimbabwe. Since then he has been on the fringes, on tour as second or third wicketkeeper.
“I played only limited overs cricket and then was dropped. I went to domestic circuit and worked hard. I kept telling myself that I needed to work hard to play well again.
Most of all, I needed to keep scoring runs and more runs, and more runs. And I kept myself fit so when the next chance comes, I can make the most of that,” said the MP stumper.
Asked if he has made any changes in his style of keeping or batting, Ojha replied: “No, I am not changing anything or not trying to develop anything. Whatever I am, I want to be the same player. The wicket can have turn and bounce but I love to play my shots.”
“When playing for India A, seniors told me to just spend some time [in the middle], so I was spending some time in the middle. But I think I spent too much time, usually I don’t,” said the keeper-batsman.
When asked if there were any players he looked up to, the MP keeper replied: ”I used to watch Adam Gilchrist play. He was an excellent wicketkeeper and an aggressive batsman. I watched Brad Haddin in the first Ashes Test. I watched how he was keeping to the spinners and how he was moving for the fast bowlers.”
Ojha admitted that he has had difficulty keeping up with spinners as it is not always easy to gauge the turn and bounce. “In [the] subcontinent, it is always difficult to keep to spinners because you don’t know which ball will turn or bounce. But I am working hard at it.”
