"Before A Match, I Would Automatically...": Pragyan Ojha Shares Cricketing Superstition
The 33-year-old Ojha had made his international debut in 2008 against Bangladesh in Karachi. A year later, he went on to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka .
The spinner went on to play 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is for India and finished with a total of 144 wickets in the international game.
In the longest format of the game, he managed to take 113 wickets, with the best bowling figures of 6-47. He was last seen in action in 2018 as he played a first-class match in Dehradun. He also made a name for himself in the Indian Premier League as he played for the Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians.
He was a key member of the Deccan Chargers IPL-winning team in 2009. He last played a match in the premier tournament in 2015 for the Mumbai Indians.
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I went and told them that he wasn't educated enough and that I would speak to Siraj. I begged them to give him a chance. I apologised profusely, too. Arshad Ayub permitted me and gave me a second chance, but told me that he needed serious correction, or it would be his last opportunity. I went to Siraj's house and his father and mother were there too. I told them all that their whole family had never seen as much money as Siraj would earn from cricket if he fulfils his potential. That has now proven true. After that, I would wake him up at 5.30 in the morning daily. From then on, things changed, and he grew as a professional cricketer. People talk about his fitness. It is natural. Siraj used to do a part-time job of making Roomali Rotis in Hyderabad. He has been a hard worker from the beginning. He is such a player that since he was selected in SRH, till now, he has never been injured, sick, or unfit. He doesn't eat any junk and is always careful about his fitness and sleep. He's an inspiration. In Hyderabad, we tell everyone khelenge koodenge toh honge nawab. We tell everyone to sleep on time, eat on time. What do the boys say? 'Yes, sir, I will,' but they don't, and remain busy with their phones. Siraj has known from the start how he's supposed to bowl and bring consistency into the nets. When you give him some extra responsibility, he adjusts his game accordingly. top videos View all Cricket is his bread and butter. Cricket is his life. It's life and death for him. So there is no other option. He has spent a lot of time playing cricket, and he has worked hard from a very young age, elevating himself from so many problems. There was a time he had nothing; today, he has got everything from cricket. We want Siraj to go to the top and progress, and he should get a lot of success in his personal life as well. Along with that, I would also like to say that he should look after those who were his friends. Not financially – financially doesn't matter – but people just yearn for love. You should give them some time, keep them in mind. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get latest Cricket news, live score and match results on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : England cricket team From the press box India vs England 2025 Indian cricket team jasprit bumrah Mohammed Siraj view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 16, 2025, 21:50 IST News cricket Understanding Mohammed Siraj: 'There Was A Time He Had Nothing, So Cricket Became Life And Death' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
