Ashwin is tricky bowler in India, says Ojha

The former left-arm spinner has eased into his new role as a commentator

Hyderabad: After cutting short his career as a cricketer at a very early age, 34-year-old Pragyan Ojha has eased into his new role as a television commentator quite admirably.

“It is something which keeps me close to the game even after retiring from first class cricket. You are connected to the game as you are also involved in the game,” said Ojha, who took 113 wickets from 24 Test matches.

Ojha, who is in the Star Sports team, said he chose to be a commentator as it is as good as playing the game. “After retirement, one can opt to be a mentor or coach but I chose to be a commentator because I thought I can get fit into this role.’’

The left-arm spinner said Harsha Bhogle was always his role model. “He has been brilliant. I have been listening to him right from childhood. He is also from Hyderabad. You have that connection. I had Venkatapathy Raju and VVS Laxman as role models when I was playing and now Harsha is my role model as commentator.’’

Apart from his role as commentator, Ojha has been named as player’s representative to the IPL Governing Council. “This is also a responsibility to me. As an ex-cricketer I’m now representing the players in the IPL. I will be putting forward the player’s problems and other things. I will be their voice in the IPL Governing Council. This is something very new to me. I will be talking the players’ point of view and their thoughts on adding value to the IPL.’’

Coming to the topic of the forthcoming four-Test India-England series, starting at Chennai from February 5, Ojha said beating India in India will be tough. “England is a good side but they face tough and confident Indians. In the 2012-13 series, they had a brilliant spin duo in Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar but in comparison the two spinners now (Bess and Leach) are good but not as experienced as those two guys had. In fact, the 2012-13 team was a very formidable one.’’

He said Jimmy Anderson’s duel with Virat Kohli will be interesting. “There is always a talk of a duel between Kohli and Anderson when England play India. As we will play with SG balls, it will swing throughout the day, so Indian batsmen have to be watchful. In the conditions which help seam bowlers, Anderson is always on the top but in sub-continent conditions, he had a decent run. Anderson had six wickets recently in Sri Lanka series. With 600 plus wickets, he is a seasoned campaigner. He can pose a problem or two to the Indian batsmen. England are aware that Virat is an important wicket but the Indian skipper will be a pumped up player. He had to come back from Australia after the first Test. Kohli enjoys challenges. India will be riding high after the historic series in Australia.’’

Ojha, who had forged a good combination with Ravichandran Ashwin, said the off spinner could be the key bowler for India. “Joe Root has been in brilliant form but playing Ashwin will be a different ball game. I don’t want to take any credit away from Sri Lankan bowlers, but wily Ashwin has the skills and the confidence to trouble any team in the world now. He is raring to go again.’’

According to Ojha, India may opt for three spinners and two fast bowlers. “This is how we go in India.”

The former Test cricketer hailed Mohd Siraj’s show. “He showed that mental toughness and character in Australia when the team wanted to perform. The Australian series discovered players like Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan and Shubman Gill. Siraj has a bright future but if he wants to make a big mark he has to follow someone like Zaheer Abbas and Ishant Sharma. To a fast bowler, fitness is the biggest challenge.”

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