“If you want to play for India for a long time..”- Pragyan Ojha recalls Rohit Sharma’s advice to him during U19 days

Pragyan Ojha and Rohit Sharma played together for India, Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians.

Pragyan Ojha and Rohit Sharma | X

Pragyan Ojha, former Indian spinner, has recounted guidance given to him by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma during their U-19 days. Ojha made his international debut for India against Bangladesh in Karachi on June 28, 2008, as part of the Asia Cup.  

He went on to play 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, and six T20Is for the Men in Blue. He took 113 wickets in Tests, 21 in ODIs, and 10 in T20Is. Ojha last played for India against the West Indies in Sachin Tendulkar's farewell Test at Wankhede Stadium in 2013.

After retiring from international cricket, Ojha became a cricket analyst and pundit.

During his commentary stint, Ojha, who shared a dressing room with current India captain Rohit Sharma during his playing days for the Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians, and Team India, reminisced about their U-19 days, when Rohit told him that if he wanted to play for India for a long time, he must 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 while commentating during the India v Sri Lanka series.

Recently, Rohit Sharma became the first Indian captain since 1997 to lose an ODI series to Sri Lanka. India lost the three-match ODIs series to Sri Lanka in Colombo 2-0, after the first match ended in a tie. He became only the third Indian captain in history to lose an ODI series against Sri Lanka.

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 11 Aug, 2024

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