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Biography

The fact that Naman Ojha appeared in the same era as Mahendra Singh Dhoni has done him more harm than good. Despite his flamboyant style and series of good performances, Ojha could never actually become the first choice wicket-keeper and remained on the sidelines for close to a decade. It was only when Dhoni decided to retire from Tests, Ojha got a chance to represent India in the Tests as he made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2015. But selectors have not always been harsh on him. He was given a chance to represent India in the ODIs in 2005 in a tri-series in Zimbabwe, where he opened the innings and got out for 1. That was the first and last time he played an ODI for India. On the same tour, he played a couple of T20Is as well but his efforts, moreover his performances, were never enough to earn him a permanent place in the Indian team. Even today, he is not the first choice wicket-keeper and gets a chance to play Tests only when Wriddhiman Saha is not fit.

As modest as his international record may be, Naman has been phenomenal in the domestic circuit. After impressing during the 2008-09 Challenger Trophy, his performances remain subdued for a while before he came back with a thundering 2013-14 season for his home side Madhya Pradesh, scoring 835 runs - his best ever. The 33-year-old is clearly the second choice wicket-keeper these days and will have to score in heaps to go a rank higher and challenge Wriddhiman for the Test spot.

Critics might argue that Wriddhiman Saha is the premier wicket-keeper but Ojha's ability to score freely does not allow the Bengal keeper to run away with the spot. Ojha might have had to wait long for his Test debut but his ODI dreams were realized back in 2010 in Zimbabwe when he made his debut against Sri Lanka during a triangular series. Ojha was a part of 2016 IPL-winning Surisers Hyderabad team and was instrumental in their success.