Pragyan Ojha is an Indian former cricketer known for his skills as a left-arm orthodox spin bowler and left-handed batsman. He was born on September 5, 1986, in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India. Ojha played for India in all three formats of international cricket from 2008 to 2013. Now, he is likely to join the BCCI men’s senior selection committee, which is headed by Ajit Agarkar. He is expected to replace S Sharath from the South Zone, who has completed his term.
Career Highlights
Pragyan Ojha, the left-arm orthodox spinner, made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India on June 28, 2008, against Bangladesh and his Test debut on November 24, 2009, against Sri Lanka. Over the course of his international career, he represented India in 24 Test matches, 18 ODIs, and 6 T20Is. A consistent performer in the limited-overs format, he was also a part of the Indian squad that lifted the Asia Cup in 2010.
Known for his effective spin bowling, Ojha developed a strong partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin in Test cricket, especially in subcontinental conditions where they regularly troubled opposition batting line-ups. His performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) also brought him recognition, as he won the prestigious Purple Cap in the third season (2010) for taking the most wickets in the tournament. He played domestic cricket for Hyderabad and Bengal, and in the IPL, he played for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians.
In 2011, Ojha expanded his cricketing journey by signing with Surrey in English County cricket, where he played a key role in helping the team earn promotion to Division One. His most memorable international performance came in his final Test match against West Indies in November 2013, which was also Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell game. Ojha claimed a brilliant 10 for 89 in that match and was named Man of the Match for his efforts.
However, his career faced a difficult phase in 2014 when he was temporarily banned from bowling due to concerns over his action. Despite this setback, he worked hard to remodel and was eventually cleared to bowl in 2015. On February 21, 2020, Pragyan Ojha retired from all forms of cricket after many years of playing for India and in domestic matches.
Stats and Records
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Average |
| Test | 24 | 113 | 30.26 |
| ODI | 18 | 21 | 31.04 |
| T20Is | 6 | 10 | – |
Who is Wife ?
Pragyan Ojha’s girlfriend was Karabee Biswal, whom he met in 2007. They later got married on May 16, 2010. Karabee, who was pursuing her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Hyderabad, and Pragyan Ojha have been together since then and have a son named Yohaan. Their relationship began with exploring Hyderabad together, enjoying outings like movie dates and street food, and they have shared a strong bond ever since, focusing on family and parenthood now.
Pragyan Ojha is one of the few cricketers who took more wickets than the runs he scored in Test cricket, showing how skilled he was as a bowler.
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