Ojha 'happy' with remodeled action

Pragyan Ojha has gone through a difficult time of late. After a Man-of-the-Match performance in his last Test match, against West Indies in 2013, he remained out of India's squad for their tours of South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia.

In between, West Indies pulled out midway through their tour of India, robbing Ojha of a potential comeback in a home Test series. Then, halfway through his Ranji Trophy season, the BCCI suspended Ojha for a suspect action and made him undergo remedial work.

Returning to the Hyderabad side after being cleared to bowl again, Ojha bagged a four-wicket haul against Himachal Pradesh. In the Irani Cup so far, he has picked up two Karnataka wickets in each innings.

"I am really happy," Ojha said, at the end of the third day's play. "This is just the second first-class game I am playing after what I went through. I am happy with how things are shaping up. I have been troubling the batsmen, and that's what is important. I always thought that whatever I do to my bowling, I should not lose that penetration. I am still continuing with that."

Ojha said his remodeled action - which seems to be more round-arm than before - is working well.

"The balance of my body is better," he said. "I am going towards the target. I am getting purchase off the wicket and am happy with that."

Over the course of the third day, Ojha had a number of appeals turned down by the umpires, including one for a silly-point catch against Manish Pandey, which replays later showed went off the edge of the bat.

"The umpiring is something I am not allowed to comment upon, but I could say that had a few decisions gone our way, which were very crucial at that point, it would have been a different scenario."

As it happened, Karnataka extended their lead to 321, and Rest of India will still need to take four more wickets before they can begin the fourth innings. Ojha was confident his team was capable of chasing any target.

"Definitely," he said. "We have got the best batsmen from the country. They are looking to do well and it will be good for them as well as the team, as their aim is to play for the country. This is a big platform, and if they play well in the second innings and we do well, they will be recognised."