Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha has announced retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. He was not playing international cricket since 2013; however, the left-armer was active in the domestic circuit until 2019.
The Bhubaneshwar-born off-spinner debuted for India in the 2008 Asia Cup against Bangladesh. The following year, he bagged his T20I cap against the same opposition during the T20 World Cup. He claimed four wickets in the game and was rewarded with the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Ojha only played 18 One-Day Internationals and 6 T20Is, in which he took 21 and 10 wickets, respectively.
In red-ball cricket, the 33-year-old debuted against Sri Lanka in 2009. Unlike the limited-overs stint, Ojha shimmered in the longest format of the game. He went on to take 100-plus wickets in Test cricket.
The famous Sachin Tendulkar farewell game was also Ojha’s last in Test Cricket. In that match, he picked up ten wickets in total as India managed to defeat West Indies by an innings. The offie finished his Test career with 113 scalps in 24 games.
The veteran bowler broke the news on Twitter and posted a long message attached to it.
“It’s time I move on to the next phase of my life. The love and support of each and every individual will always remain with me and motivate me all the time,” tweeted Ojha.
It’s time I move on to the next phase of my life. The love and support of each and every individual will always remain with me and motivate me all the time 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/WoK0WfnCR7
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 21, 2020
“To be an Indian cricketer and represent the country at the highest level was always a dream I cherished as a youngster,” Ojha said in a statement shared on Twitter.
“My eventful career has witnessed many ups and downs. Over the time, I have realized that the legacy of a sportsperson is not just the outcome of his hard work and dedication, but also the faith and guidance bestowed upon by the association (team management), teammates, coaches, trainers, and the fans,” the statement read further.
“I am very thankful to Mr. V.V.S Laxman for mentoring me like an elder brother, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju for being the role model I always looked to emulate, Mr. Harbhajan Singh for being a constant adviser and Mr. M.S. Dhoni for providing me with the honorable opportunity to wear the Indian Cap,” added the Hyderabad stalwart, who also represented Bihar, later.
“Lastly, I am certain that looking back at my career will always fill me with a sense of pride. The most memorable moments would be receiving my Test Cap from Mr. Sachin Tendulkar and accomplishing, the feat of taking 100 Test wickets. I hope to continue contributing towards the growth of Indian Cricket in every capacity possible,” concluded the 33-year-old.
