Madhya Pradesh stalwart Naman Ojha retires from all forms of cricket

Madhya Pradesh-born wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha has decided to bid adieu to all forms of cricket. The news was confirmed by senior journalist Amol Karhadkar. Majorly the name of domestic cricket, Ojha did play for India at the international level too. He marked his Test debut against Sri Lanka on August 28 in year 2015. He played his last T20I for India in June 2010 against Zimbabwe.

The top-order batsman Naman Ojha marked his debut in first-class cricket for Madhya Pradesh in 2000-01. He had represented Rajasthan Royals in the 2009 edition of the Indian Premier League, which was played in South Africa. He opened the batting for RR and marked his class with some vital innings. The stalwart of Madhya Pradesh domestic cricket plied his trade in the domestic circuit across 20 seasons. He went to register maximum dismissals behind the stumps in Ranji Trophy.

Here is the tweet confirming his retirement

Just in: Naman Ojha, former India wk who holds the record for most dismissal by a keeper in #RanjiTrophy, has retired from #cricket @sportstarweb @TheHinduSports

— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) February 15, 2021

He played 146 first-class games scoring 9753 runs averaging 41.67. It included 22 centuries, 55 half-centuries, and a highest individual score of 219* runs. He also got featured in 143 List A games and 182 T20s, which included 113 IPL appearances for franchises Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ojha’s 189-run stand for the 2nd wicket with David Warner in the 2012 edition of IPL stands to be the highest partnership for any wicket to date for the Delhi franchise, and the fifth-highest in IPL history.

Naman Ojha’s batting form dipped in last few seasons

His last IPL appearance happened in the year 2018 playing for Delhi Capitals against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He gave up gloves work to maintain his form with the willow, but even that didn’t help him. His batting form constantly dipped in the last few seasons, and due to the same reason, he didn’t feature for the side regularly in any of the domestic competitions in the last season.

His Test debut could alive due to India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2015, where Wriddhiman Saha had to sit outside due to a hamstring injury, and Ojha finished the Test with 56 runs, four catches, and one stumping to his credit.