'My main weapon is speed'

The absence of Zaheer Khan due to injury, the poor form of Ishant Sharma and R P Singh, and the axing of bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad have left India's bowling resources vastly depleted. The selectors have taken a gamble and included the in-form Sudeep Tyagi.

The Uttar Pradesh pacer caught the eye with good performances for India 'A' in the Emerging Nations tournament in Australia and continued the good showing in the Irani and Challenger Trophy, forcing the selectors to pick him for the seven-match ODI series against Australia.

The 22-year-old is now hoping to make the most of opportunity. He believes he can carry on the good form in the upcoming series.

Ahead of Sunday's first ODI in Vadodara, Tyagi spoke with Chief Correspondent Harish Kotian.

How delighted are you at making it to the Indian team? Were you expecting the call-up?

Yes, it was a bit of a shock! I was expecting a call, but not so soon. I did think that I would make it to the team in the near future, but never expected it would come for this Australia series.

I was delighted when I got the news that I was selected. It was a dream come true. My good performances in domestic cricket were rewarded. I am happy that I have got a chance to play for India and I will give my best and try and win matches for the country.

You said you want to bowl like Zaheer Khan. What exactly do you mean by that?

I have always dreamt of bowling like Zaheer Khan, who I admire so much and look up to. Right from the start I have been impressed by his line and length bowling, and always wanted to be a fast bowler like him. There is a lot I have learnt by watching him bowl. Hope I can also perform like him.

As a bowler, what is your ideal game plan for one-day cricket? Do you look to take wickets with the new ball or look to stop runs and force batsmen into losing their wickets?

The main aim of a bowler is definitely to take wickets, but, at the same time, it is important to stop the flow of runs. Both are equally important for a fast bowler. So it depends on the conditions and how you are bowling at that moment.

My main weapon is speed, and the delivery that comes in sharply for a right-handed batsman. Those two are my main weapons that help me take wickets.

For the last few years India have been playing with three seamers in most matches. If given the ball as a third seamer after 10-12 overs, would you be comfortable in that role?

I am comfortable with any role given to me, whether it is opening the bowling or bowling one change. If I get the new ball I am ready for it; if the team management thinks I must bowl as the third seamer, I am ready to do that too. It all depends on how the captain wants to use my bowling, because I am ready for any situation.

You had a great start to your Ranji Trophy career. You claimed ten wickets in your debut match and followed it up with nine wickets in the next, and finished as the top wicket-taker in the 2007-08 season with 41 wickets. What was the secret of your success?

All I was thinking was that whenever I get an opportunity I will look to bowl well and take wickets. I had never imagined that I would pick ten wickets in my debut match. All I was thinking in the match was about bowling in the right areas. But things did work out perfectly for me and I finished with ten wickets in the match and made a big contribution in my team's success.

I still remember how the entire team supported me. Captain Mohammad Kaif encouraged me a lot before that game, and even players like Suresh Raina helped me. So that made things easy for me; so many people were behind me.

You took up cricket late, at around 13 or 14, because of lack of support and rejection in fast bowling trials. How did you overcome those initial difficulties?

I took up cricket seriously around the age of 16 or 17, because there were a lot of problems growing up. My coach, my parents, friends and many others helped me overcome those problems at the start after which I never looked back.

Mohammad Kaif saw me at the trials and was impressed, following which I was called for the camp. Then Shalab Srivastav left for the Indian Cricket League and R P Singh and Praveen Kumar went to play the series against Pakistan because of which I got the opportunity to play in the Ranji Trophy.

How disappointed were you when you got injured and were ruled out of the IPL first season. Your replacement Manpreet Gony came up with good performances and was selected to the Indian team?

It was a big disappointment that I got injured and missed the IPL, because I was in such good form at that moment. But I was sure that if I got back my fitness and worked hard on my bowling I would definitely make a comeback. Now I pay a lot of attention to my fitness. Being a fast bowler there is more emphasis to stay injury-free.

How big a boost was the IPL second season in South Africa? Many people were impressed by your bowling.

Yes, I had a good outing in the IPL. The wickets were good and I got to meet a lot of top players and international stars. It was a good learning process for me. I picked up lot of things during the IPL, which helped me improve my bowling.

You finished as the top wicket-taker in the Emerging Nations tournament in Australia with 14 wickets in six matches. Was that the turning point? What made the selectors take notice of your abilities?

I took many wickets there and followed it up with a good performance in the Irani Trophy. Those performances definitely gave me a lot of confidence; they were noticed by everyone. So those performances were important in my selection.

You also had a good run in the Challenger Trophy, especially in the final when you shocked the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India Blues. Was that the key moment?

That match was important for me in terms of my selection. I was happy that I was able to perform and help my team win the Challenger Trophy.

How have you planned for the Australian team, which boasts of a strong batting line-up?

I am just hoping that whenever I got an opportunity I will do well. I have done well in domestic cricket and that is why I made it to the Indian team. Australia is the number one team in the world, so it would be great if I can do well against them. But I am not making any special plans. I will look to continue bowling the same way as I have done so far, because that has given me success and brought me so far.

How was your first practice session with the Indian team, with players like Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni? What did you learn from the short interaction with them?

Every cricketer dreams of making it to the Indian team, and sharing the dressing room with great players is such a wonderful feeling. I spoke to seniors like Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and they told me to enjoy my game. They told me it is important to relax and not take any undue pressure.

Photographs: Uday Kuckian