Looking to make the most of it
Like Pujara, debutant stumper Ojha will also be on trial as injury replacements in the crucial final Test
COLOMBO: The first batch of India players arrived at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground nets on Wednesday morning well ahead of the main group. There was Cheteshwar Pujara, Stuart Binny, Harbhajan Singh, Varun Aaron as well as newcomers Naman Ojha and Karun Nair.
As he finished his batting session, Pujara lofted a spinner over the on-side, more to test his timing than power. The established No 3 not so long ago is desperate to grab the lifeline as makeshift opener in the series decider against Sri Lanka starting on Friday.
The last Test he played in the sub-continent, against West Indies in Mumbai in November 2013, he made a century to give Sachin Tendulkar a fitting farewell. He also hit a big century in South Africa, but failures mounted in New Zealand, England and Australia.
The inability to convert starts stood out in England and Australia. Only injuries to Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan have provided this opening. Redemption may be some distance away, but Pujara knows he can’t afford to fail.
Anxiety will also be gnawing at Ojha. As he walked across the nets, he spotted national selectors Saba Karim and Vikram Rathour. The handshake and nod were deferential.
The Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman, an Adam Gilchrist fan, has been India’s nearly man. He had a fleeting glimpse of India colours, on the 2010 Zimbabwe tour when some seniors, including skipper MS Dhoni, were rested. Unable to impress --- he played one ODI and two T20s against Sri Lanka --- he was back in the queue.
SURPRISE OPENING
He has been next in line to Wriddhiman Saha, whose hamstring injury has suddenly put him on the verge of Test debut at 32. He is stop-gap but his every keeping move, against R Ashwin and Amit Mishra in particular, and run scored, will be followed closely.
“I don’t want to develop anything,” he smiled when asked about an unusually slow innings for India ‘A’ in Chennai recently. “Whatever I am, I want to be same. The wicket can have turn and bounce, but I love to play my shots. Seniors told me to just spend some time, so I was, but I think I spent too much time, usually I don’t.”
He said: “I played only one ODI and was dropped. I went to the domestic circuit and worked. I kept telling myself I need to work hard to play well again and score runs and runs and runs. I need to keep myself fit so when the next chance comes, I can make the most of that. There is a little bit of pressure, but I am not thinking about that. I just want to enjoy this game because after a long time I am getting this chance.”
Former chief selector Kiran More believes the third Test will be a test of character for Pujara and Ojha. “Pujara is a high-profile run-getter. Any cricketer making a comeback will feel the pressure, but he knows he is part of the team set-up,” he told HT.
More, who helps Ojha with his keeping, said: “Ojha has been around the India team and also went to England last year. So he knows he is part of the group. That confidence will be there.
In Indian or subcontinental conditions it is difficult to keep to spinners, so I am working hard. The ball might turn and bounce and you never know which delivery will turn or bounce NAMAN OJHA, India wicketkeeper who comes in to replace Saha