Punjab pacer Siddharth Kaul has been on cloud nine since his selection to the national team for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Ahead of the first ODI at Dharamsala, the 27-year-old has made it clear that he is ready to do what the team demands from him without thinking too much.
"I am not thinking too much about the competition. It is an honour to be picked for India, a dream come true. I am going into the series with a mindset that helped me do well in domestic cricket, IPL and India. I am ready to do what the team demands from me," the excited Kaul was quoted by PTI as saying.
Siddharth was playing in a Ranji Trophy game for Punjab against Services at Gandhi Sports Complex Ground, Amritsar when he got to hear about his India selection. Recalling that wonderful moment Kaul went numb and said: "It is a great feeling I can't describe what it is. Thank you for calling me to this media interaction.”
"I got silent when I was told about the selection. I just kept running and bowling, did not know what was happening around me. I feel blessed that I have got this call-up," the speedster further added.
Kaul was part of the Virat Kohli led U-19 team which won the World Cup back in 2008 in Malaysia. Since then the right-arm paceman has come a long way and he attributes his national call-up to the hard yards put in domestic cricket.
"I have been picked in the IPL, India A and I have performed well. The experience in domestic cricket in the last five years also helped my bowling, taught me how to bowl in certain circumstances. It has helped in my growth," said Kaul.
On being asked about the journey from U-19 to being picked for India, Siddharth replied: "I love this game and I am passionate about it. I have to keep going. I know fitness is most important in international cricket and I working on that."
The ODI series between India and Sri Lanka will commence on December 10 (Sunday) at Dharamsala. Subsequently, Mohali and Visakhapatnam will host the second and third ODI on December 13 and 17 respectively.
