Pragyan Ojha Reveals Getting A Special Gift For Dismissing Sachin Tendulkar In IPL 2009

Former Indian spin-bowler Pragyan Ojha has opened up on a gift received from the franchise owner on plucking the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar during the 2009 edition of IPL. After the inaugural edition was staged in 2008, the second season of the competition held in 2009. Meanwhile, the match in which Pragyan Ojha claimed Sachin’s scalp was Deccan Chargers’ third match of the tournament.

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The 2008 edition ended on a disappointing note for the Deccan Chargers, having finished last. With Adam Gilchrist taking over as the skipper for the full season in 2009, the side began improving. Chargers won the tournament by beating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final with Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh central to their success in the bowling department.

Pragyan Ojha recalled that he had a word with the owner before the game against Mumbai in Durban. Having known the left-arm spinner from childhood, the owner promised him that he would have a special gift if he takes the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar. Surprisingly, it was Ojha, who picked up Tendulkar as the first wicket of the match and got a watch, which he craved the most.

“This was in Durban, just before our game against MI. Our owner came to me, and the way I was bowling in South Africa, he had a word with me. He is from Hyderabad, [he is] one of the team owners in our local leagues in the Hyderabad Cricket Association system. He knows me right from my childhood.

He walked up to me and said ‘Pragyan, if you get Sachin Tendulkar wicket, then definitely I’ll have a special gift for you. He knew exactly that I used to love watches. I told him, ‘Sir, If I get his wicket, I need a watch. It so happened, the next day, I got Sachin paaji’s wicket and he gifted me a watch.” the Hyderabad cricketer told Wisden in an interview.

Pragyan Ojha took 18 wickets in the tournament:

The 33-year old was one of the vital cogs for Deccan Chargers throughout the tournament. Not only did Ojha took the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar in that match, but he also won the man of the match award. The Master Blaster spooned Ojha’s delivery to extra cover for 36 in the 11th over. Pragyan Ojha’s figures read as 4-0-21-3. With 18 wickets in the tournament, he was the fourth-highest wicket-taker while RP Singh won the purple cap for snapping 23 scalps.

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