Mumbai: Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha dedicated his five-wicket haul to retiring batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who is playing the 200th and final Test match before retirement.
Riding on Ojha’s superb show with the ball, India bundled out West Indies for 182 in their first innings and then went on to score 157/2 in the second Test of Tendulkar’s farewell series.
“It’s a great feeling getting five wickets in a special Test match like this. When you get a five-wicket haul, it holds a special place for you. I would like to dedicate this haul to Sachin. It is a special one. I am happy that I got this haul in his (Sachin) 200th Test,” Ojha told reporters after the end of play here on Thursday.
Ojha said he did not mind his performance being overshadowed by Tendulkar.
“This Test match belongs to Sachin. It’s a special one. We want him to get a lot of runs in this Test match. I don’t mind my performance getting overshadowed,” he said.
While Ojha grabbed the spotlight in the first half of the day, it was Tendulkar who held centrestage in the last session with his 38.
The 27-year old Ojha was the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 5-40 in 11.2 overs in the second session of the day.
Ojha said the players were glued to their places when Tendulkar walked out to bat at exactly 3:33pm to the deafening applause from the near-packed stadium.
“Everybody is a fan of Sachin. When he walked out to bat, everyone was just standing or sitting where they were. We want him to play as long as he could. Everybody wants him to get runs in this Test match,” he said.
Prez hails Sachin
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, President Pranab Mukherjee hailed the achievements of Tendulkar and expressed hope that he will continue to serve the game as well as the nation.
Talking to reporters after the prize distribution function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan League T-10 cricket tournament, Mukherjee said “today is a special day…I join millions of adoring fans in hailing the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar as he plays his last international match in Mumbai beginning today”.
Terming Tendulkar as “a great ambassador of the game and of India” Mukherjee said he is a true icon who has inspired youth across the country by not only his stupendous records but by his conduct on and off the field. (PTI)