Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is upbeat that they will be able to finish up the first Test against New Zealand despite heavy rain forced the umpires to abandon the play during the second session on the third day.
A report in The Hindu quoted Ojha as saying, ““The wicket, which had more of bounce and less of turn in the first innings, is turning more and there is bounce. The most important thing is that it is spinning from the middle-stump itself. This is a very good sign for us.”
Ojha who along with his spin partner R Ashwin wrecked havoc in the match and shared nine wickets among themselves said that it was a great feeling to be bowling alongside Ashwin. Ashwin returned with a figure of six for 31 in the first innings.
“The best part with Ashwin is that I’ve played a lot with him, and do talk a lot too,” he said.
“Ultimately, what is important is winning games for India, whether I am bowling with Ashwin or Bhajji pa (Harbhajan Singh). Definitely, Ashwin is bowling with a lot of confidence and I am enjoying being his spinning partner,” added Ojha.
DNA writes that Ojha who finished the first innings with figures of 3 for 44 is looking forward for a five wickets haul in Hyderabad which happens to be his home ground.
"Its a good wicket, especially when you are playing in Hyderabad, growing up here, playing lot of games here. To be very frank, getting a five-wicket haul here could have been special but nevertheless I have the second inning and I am really looking forward doing this," Ojha was quoted in the report.
“I have never been a restrictive bowler. I have said this to many people that it's a team plan. On the first day you can never come and give easy runs to the batsmen because the game has changed a lot. Before people used to play to draw a Test match but now they play to win the series.
You play with their patience, keep things tight and let them commit mistake. That's what I feel,” Ojha quoted The Times of India as saying.