Naman Ojha is certainly back in the national selection committee's radar after four centuries in his last five first-class innings, including two double hundreds, but he rules out any competition with Wriddhiman Saha for the second wicketkeeper's slot in the Indian team.
"I don't think I am competing with Wriddhiman. Our skill sets are completely different. Look at it this way, I can play as a specialist batsman in any position between number 1 to 7 for any team but Wriddhiman is a specialist wicketkeeper first," the 31-year-old Madhya Pradesh cricketer said.
With 687 runs from his last five completed innings (including two not outs) at a Bradmanesque average of 229, Ojha says he has never been so confident about his game.
"This is my best phase as a batsman in first-class cricket. I can safely say that I am more complete batsman now compared to what I was when I first played for India in Zimbabwe, back in 2010," said Ojha.
His sequence of scores read 219 no, 101 no, 110, 217 and 40 and Ojha rates his double century against Australia A as the best.
"That will be a special knock as I got it in Australia. The quality of bowling attack was much superior than what we get in India. Also the second innings hundred was equally special as we had lost five wickets for less than 100 runs and could have lost the game. I scored a match-saving hundred and that was satisfying," he said.
The Aussie bowling attack comprised of James Faulkner, Mitch Marsh, Moises Henriques to name a few. Just like Robin Uthappa, Ojha's game has also changed once he got personal advice from Praveen Amre.
"He adviced a few changes in technique and it worked wonders for me. He is the coach of my office team, Air India. He knew me personally. Also I believe, when I was in Delhi Daredevils, I was being sent at No 7 in T20 format with not many balls left. That shift certainly affected me mentally.
"Once I was in Sunrisers I batted up the order and felt much better," he said.
There is a lot of talk about his wicketkeeping technique, but Ojha said he is never bothered by criticism.
"I don't get disturbed by criticism. In fact, my keeping has improved a lot in the past two to three seasons. Also, when you are keeping there will be an odd catch or stumping which you are bound to miss. But last two to three years have been really good," said Ojha.
Since he talks about being a specialist batsman, does he have any specific area in the outfield?
Ojha smiled and said, "I am equally comfortable at any position in the outfield as much as I am at close-in positions."
