I'm not competing with Wriddhiman Saha, says Naman Ojha

Naman Ojha

While Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni firmly occupies the wicket-keeper slot in all-three formats of the game, life is becoming extremely difficult for other stumpers in the country. One such player – Naman Ojha, who is in sublime form racking, up his 4th century in his last 5 innings says there is no competition for the second keeper slot with Wriddhiman Saha.

"I don't think I am competing with Wriddhiman. Our skill sets are completely different. Look at it this way, I can play as a specialist batsman in any position between number 1 to 7 for any team but Wriddhiman is a specialist wicketkeeper first," the right-hander who registered 217 for Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy told PTI on Tuesday.

Best phase as a batsman

With that innings, Ojha now boasts a Bradmanesque average of 229 in his last three matches that includes two unbeaten tons. After scoring centuries in each innings of the unofficial Test series against Australia A in Brisbane – 219*, 101* and 110, the batsman was asked to join India in England for the last two Tests.

"This is my best phase as a batsman in first-class cricket. I can safely say that I am a more complete batsman now compared to what I was when I first played for India in Zimbabwe, back in 2010," said Ojha on his rich form.

The player rates his maiden double century in Australia as the special one.

"That will be a special knock as I got it in Australia. The quality of bowling attack was much superior than what we get in India. Also the second innings hundred was equally special as we had lost five wickets for less than 100 runs and could have lost the game. I scored a match-saving hundred and that was satisfying," he said.

Credits Pravin Amre for his inputs

The player also revealed that Pravin Amre, the man behind the rise of Robin Uthappa, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina in recent times, suggested some changes to his game that came off well.

"He advised a few changes in technique and it worked wonders for me. He is the coach of my office team, Air India. He knew me personally. Also I believe, when I was in Delhi Daredevils, I was being sent at No 7 in T20 format with not many balls left. That shift certainly affected me mentally. Once I was in Sunrisers, I batted up the order and felt much better," he said.

Even though there were some critical opinions on his abilities as a wicket-keeper, Ojha says he had a good last few seasons behind the stumps.

"I don't get disturbed by criticism. In fact, my keeping has improved a lot in the past two to three seasons. Also when you are keeping there will be an odd catch or stumping which you are bound to miss. But last two to three years have been really good," said Ojha.

"I am equally comfortable at any position in the outfield as much as I am at close-in positions," Ojha signed off with a smile on his preferred place as an out-fielder if he was made a specialist batsman.

With some doubts lingering on the availability of Saha for the Sri Lanka ODIs owing to a finger injury, Ojha might be named as a replacement with his numbers backing him.