Former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha has recalled advice that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma gave him during their U-19 days. Ojha made his international debut for India against Bangladesh in Karachi on June 28, 2008, during the Asia Cup match and went on to play in a total of 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, and six T20Is for the Men in Blue. He picked up 113, 21, and 10 wickets in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, respectively. Ojha’s last appearance for the Indian team was against the West Indies in 2013 during Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test at Wankhede Stadium.
After retiring from international cricket, Ojha donned the hat of a cricket expert and commentator. He was part of Sony’s commentary panel during the recently concluded ODI series between India and Sri Lanka.
During his commentary stint, Ojha, who has shared a dressing room with current India captain Rohit Sharma during his playing days for the Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians, and Team India, remembered old days and said during their U-19 days, Rohit told him that if he wants to play for India for a long time, then he needs to be a match-winner.
“The best advice I received was from Rohit Sharma when we were playing U19 cricket. He said, ‘Everyone wants to play for the country because we have come at the U19 level. But if you want to play for India for a long time, then you need to be a match-winner,” Ojha said.
India lose against SL
Rohit, who became the third India captain to win an ICC trophy in June, was back in action during the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month, and in all three matches, he top-scored for the Men in Blue. But despite his good show with the bat, India suffered shocking defeats in the second and third ODIs played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 4 and 7. The two back-to-back losses entered Rohit’s name on an embarrassing list.
He became only the third Indian captain in history to lose an ODI series against Sri Lanka.
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