Wicketkeeper batsman Naman Ojha is keen to make a good impression following his selection to the Indian team after a long wait.
The 32-year-old, who made his first class debut 15 years ago, around the same time as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has been on the fringes of national selection for close to five years and his international experience has been limited to two ODIs and one Twenty20 match, all in 2010.
With Dhoni retired from Tests and regular wicketkeeper Wriddiham Saha ruled out of the third Test against Sri Lanka beginning today with a hamstring injury, Ojha finally gets his chance to turn out in India whites for the first time.
It is a peculiar situation for Ojha as today’s match could be the only Test he gets to play because he will be back on the bench once Saha is declared fit.
The pressure to excel is therefore high for the debutant – the third oldest player in the squad – but he is not entertaining any such thoughts as he looks to enjoy a long awaited dream of playing a Test for India.
“There is a little bit pressure, but I am not thinking about that,” he said yesterday. “I just want to enjoy this game because after a long time I am getting this chance.
"I have waited very long, so I just want to enjoy my game, and not think about anything.
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“I have prepared well. Last month we played against Australia A so I am in a good shape and fingers crossed that I perform well.”
A flashy wicketkeeper when he started his career, Ojha has cut out the frills and he is far more secure behind the stumps now.
Ojha, who idolises Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, feels standing up to the spinners on the subcontinent pitches is a big challenge.
“I think in Indian or subcontinental conditions, it is difficult to keep to spinners, so I am working hard on that. The ball might turn and bounce, and you never know which ball will turn or bounce, so you just need to work hard.”
Brad Haddin is another player he admires for the Australian’s ability to keep well against the fast bowlers and spinners alike.
“I was watching Brad Haddin in the first Ashes Test. I just try and watch him, how he is keeping to spinners, and how well he is moving to fast bowlers. And he opens his hands also nicely. He is very senior, so I was watching how he was keeping,” he said.
Although Ojha made his first class debut in 2000, it was only 10 years after he made his ODI debut that he began to come up with consistent displays on the domestic circuit to push his case for selection.
“I played only one one-dayer and was dropped,” he said.
“I went to the domestic circuit and worked hard. I kept telling myself that I’d need to work hard to play well again and score runs, that’s it.
“And I needed to keep myself fit so that when the next chance came my way, I wanted to make sure I made the most of that.”
