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I am trying to perform in every tournament: Ojha

April 28, 2012 21:07 IST

In his quest to be in the reckoning for selection in India's senior team, wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha said he is trying to raise the bar by performing well in every tournament.

"I am satisfied with my keeping, I am trying to improve game by game, trying to perform well in every tournament, domestic (tournaments) and that's all I can do," Ojha, who plays for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, said ahead of his team's match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.

Naman OjhaHis exploits for Rajasthan Royals while opening the batting with Graeme Smith in the IPL initially is well remembered, but Ojha could not quite repeat that performance for the Daredevils last year.

The change of his batting position was the reason behind it.

After starting this season as opener, Ojha was dropped down the order to accommodate experienced Sri Lankan import Mahela Jayawardene.

"I am trying to score as many runs as possible in the last 2-3 overs," said the 28-year-old player from Madhya Pradesh.

The Daredevils are going strong at the top of the table with six wins from eight games, but Ojha said they were not thinking too much ahead.

"We are just concentrating on our next game. Not thinking about too far ahead."

Ojha's teammate from Jamaica, 23-year-old Andre Russell, said he was waiting for that first opportunity to play in this IPL.

"I am happy and excited. I will be just happy to get a chance and perform.

"With (David) Warner coming in tomorrow, and KP (Kevin Pietersen) leaving (after a couple of games), I still believe I can get into the final XI. I am ready for any opportunity," Russell said.

"(Virender) Sehwag, KP and Mahela are very experienced, I have been watching them since a very young age," he said when asked about the experience of rubbing shoulders with some of the leading stars of world cricket.

"We are learning a lot by sharing the dressing room with them and having nets with them. It's great to how they approach the practice session and matches."

Sunday's encounter will be Pietersen's last at the Feroz Shah Kotla and, coinciding with the occasion will be the musical concert by popular Bollywood singer Mika Singh, who will perform after the match.

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