Pragyan Ojha announces retirement from international cricket
Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha called time on his international and First-Class career on Friday. The 33-year-old took to twitter to announce the news. Ojha scalped a total number 144 international wickets in 71 innings during his 12-year-old career. The left-hander played his last international game in 2013 against West Indies. Here's more.
Pragyan Ojha thanks teammates for extending support throughout his career
Ojha's numbers were impressive right through his career
Ojha made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup 2008 at Karachi. He finished with figures of 2/43. Besides, his Test debut was against Sri Lanka in 2009 wherein he scalped four wickets. He was named Player of the Match in his last Test appearance which was also Sachin Tendulkar's final Test. The southpaw also played six T20Is and took 10 wickets.
He rose to prominence in 2008
Ojha grabbed eyeballs in 2008 when he was picked up by Deccan Chargers for the inaugural IPL edition. He ended up as their highest wicket-taker, having scalped 18 wickets in 15 matches at 19.33 when they became champions in 2009. Later on, he replicated his IPL form in international cricket. In 108 First-Class games, he has taken 424 wickets at 28.60.
Ojha entered the elite list of Test bowlers in 2013
Ojha became the joint-third fastest Indian to 100 Test wickets (22 Tests), during the fourth Test against Australia in Delhi in 2013. He became the fifth Indian spinner to get to the milestone after Bishan Singh Bedi, Vinoo Mankad, Ravi Shastri and Dilip Doshi.
ICC banned him from bowling in 2014
In 2014, Ojha was banned from bowling in competitive cricket after his bowling action was deemed illegal by the ICC. It was found out that his elbow was bent beyond the permissible limit of 15 degrees while bowling. Although he was cleared a month later with a remodelled bowling action, his career couldn't resurrect as he only played domestic cricket in the following years.
