Bowling to Sachin Tendulkar an education: Pragyan Ojha

April 3, 2013

Pragyan_Ojha

Hyderabad, Mar 3: Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojhabecame the third quickest Indian to reach 100 wickets when he scalped Australian James Pattinson in the first innings of the fourth Test at Delhi recently. The 26-year-old, who has 102 Test wickets from just 22 Tests, is also the joint highest wicket-taker in Tests from Hyderabad, equaling off-spinner Shivlal Yadav's mark. Ojha, who is in Bangalore preparing with Mumbai Indians for their opening game against Royal Challengers, said the IPL and his achievements on Tuesday. Excerpts:

IPL a boon: It's a great platform for youngsters. I was just a domestic player when I was signed up by the Deccan Chargers in 2008. After some good performances that year (11 wickets), there was no looking back. I went on to get my India cap. For youngsters, it's anawesome opportunity to rub shoulders with international stars and legends of the game. Even if one doesn't get to play many games, being in the same dressing room is in itself education.

Struggles: I had a really good time with the Deccan Chargers in the first four seasons (60 wickets in 54 matches). I struggled a bit after moving to the Mumbai Indians last season. And then, after doing so well against England, I got to play only two Tests in the recent series against Australia but was able to cross the 100-wicket mark. I have learnt to take disappointments in the stride. Such moments only make me mentally tougher.

Tendulkar effect: It's great to have someone like Sachin paaji in the dressing room. He is an inspiration for all of us as the energy, commitment and dedication he has for the game even after more than two decades of international cricket is just amazing. He is an awesome player and a wonderful person. I always love to bowl to him at the nets as I get to learn a lot from it.

Kumble factor: We have good support staff and that helps a lot in a tough competition like this. Having Anil (Kumble) bhai as a mentor is really proving to be a blessing for me especially. His vast experience and knowledge of the game is something that I want to tap into during this season. I will be working with him closely and look to become a better bowler.

New skipper Ponting: There is not much that I can say about Ponting. He is a proven match-winner and is not only a great batsman but also a wonderful captain. On top of it, he is a jolly good guy and gets along well with all the players. His very presence will be a big boon for the team.

Learning from Harbhajan: I consider myself fortunate to have played with Bhajji. I have gained a lot from him. To have a senior like him is always a great thing for a youngster.

John Wright: It is still early days with him. Haven't been able to interact with him much but he has tremendous knowledge of the game and I look forward to tap into it.

Batting: I have started working on my batting too with Wright helping me out in that area. I want to contribute to the team with the willow too as in a T20 game every run scored is vital.

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News Network
April 24,2020

New Delhi, Apr 24: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday extended wishes to the "most prolific batsman of all time" Sachin Tendulkar on his 47th birthday.

ICC took to Twitter and wrote: "Happy birthday to Sachin Tendulkar, the most prolific batsman of all time! To celebrate, we will give you the opportunity to vote for his top ODI innings in a bracket challenge! Stay tuned to join the celebrations."

The Maharashtra-born player had an illustrious career in the game, creating several records.
Tendulkar made his debut in Test cricket on November 15, 1989. In the same year on December 18, he played his first ODI match.

The legendary cricketer has the most number of runs in the longest format of the game, amassing 15,921 runs. Along the way, Tendulkar scored 51 Test centuries, most by any player.

Things are no different in ODI cricket as Tendulkar atop the list of most runs in this format as well. He has accumulated 18,426 runs in ODI which includes 49 tons.

Tendulkar represented the country in six World Cups during his career that lasted for 24 years. He was the part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad.

This year, Master Blaster decided not to celebrate his birthday due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis in the country.

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News Network
January 24,2020

Auckland, Jan 24: K L Rahul and Shreyas Iyer smashed quick-fire half-centuries, while skipper Virat Kohli made 45 as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the first T20 International to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series here on Friday.

Chasing a challenging 204-run target, Rahul smashed 56 off 27 balls and together with Kohli shared 99 runs for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the chase.

Later, Iyer (58 not out off 29 balls) and Manish Pandey (14 not out) remained unbeaten as India chased down the target with an over to spare.

Earlier, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor smashed scintillating half-centuries to power New Zealand to a challenging 203 for five.

Opener Munro blasted six fours and two sixes in his 42-ball 59, while skipper Williamson treated the Indian bowlers with equal disdain, hitting them out of the park four times in his 26-ball 51.

Taylor then clobbered an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls. His innings was laced with three sixes and as many fours.

Opener Martin Guptill also chipped in with a 19-ball 30.

Earlier, India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to field.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah (1/), Shardul Thakur (1/44), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/32), Shivam Dube (1/24) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/18) snapped one wicket each.

Brief Score:

New Zealand: 203 for 5 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 59, Kane Williamson 51, Ross Taylor 54; Jasprit Bumrah 1/31).

India: 204 for 4 in 19 overs (Shreyas Iyer 58 not out, K L Rahul 56, Virat Kohli 45; Ish Sodhi 2/36).

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News Network
June 10,2020

Kingston, Jun 10: "Enough is enough", said West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as he opened up on the raging issue of racism and called for "respect and equality" for black people, who have faced discrimination for years.

Bravo joined the likes of his former captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle in denouncing racism in the wake of African-American George Floyd's killing at the hands of a white police officer in the USA.

"It's sad to see what's going on around the world. As a black man, we know the history of what black people have been through. We never ask for revenge, we ask for equality and respect. That's it," Bravo told former Zimbabwe cricketer Pommie Mbangwa in an Instagram live chat on Tuesday.

"We give respect to others. Why is it that we are facing this over and over? Now enough is enough. We just want equality. We don't want revenge, war.

"We just want respect. We share love and appreciate people for who they are. That's what is most important."

The 36-year-old, who has played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs and 71 T20Is for West Indies, said he wants the world to know that they are powerful and beautiful people and gave the example of greats such as Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan.

"I just want our brothers and sisters to know that we are powerful and beautiful. And at the end of the day, you look at some of the greats of the world, whether it is Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan we have had leaders who paved the way for us," he said.

Two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain Sammy had earlier alleged that a racist nickname was used to address him during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad and demanded an apology.

Sammy said he was called 'Kalu' while he was in India. 'Kalu' is a derogatory word to describe black people.

Gayle, who too plays in the IPL, took to Twitter to back Sammy, saying that racism does exist in cricket.

"It's never too late to fight for the right cause or what you've experienced over the years! So much more to your story, @darensammy88. Like I said, it's in the game!!," Gayle tweeted.

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