Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has decided to embark on the second innings of his life, announcing retirement from all formats of cricket on Friday.
The 33-year-old’s last test cricket appearance also happened to be Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell game. Ojha has also a player in the first-class circuits for Hyderabad and Bengal.
"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," posted Pragyan Ojha on Twitter.
"To be an Indian cricketer and represent the country at the highest level was always a dream I cherished as a youngster. “I fall short of words to describe how fortunate I have been to have lived my dream and earned the love and respect of my fellow countrymen," added the cricketer.
"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.”
Ojha debuted in the year 2008 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. The year after in his T20I debut he again faced Bangladesh, where he claimed 4 wickets and bagged the title of the man of the match. He played about 18 one-day international matches and about six T20Is.
In his final appearance playing for team India, he once again claimed the title of man of the match by claiming ten wickets in total in the test match against West Indies. Ojha concluded his career in cricket with a total of 113 wickets in 24 test matches.
The spinner acknowledged his teammates and mentors in a maudlin Tweet announcing his retirement.
"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. 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,” wrote Ojha.
Ojha’s departure from cricket certainly marks the end of an era and his successful career will continue to inspire many throughout time.
