Rookie Uttar Pradesh [ Images ] pacer Sudeep Tyagi [ Images ], the lone new face in the Indian squad for the ODI series against Australia [ Images ], considers pacer Zaheer Khan [ Images ] as his role model and said he would try to justify the selectors' decision if he gets an opportunity to play.

"Zaheer Khan is my role model and I want to perform like him at the big stage. I want to follow his footsteps," an elated Tyagi said.

Tyagi was on Thursday named in the 15-member squad for the first two one-dayers of a seven-match series against Australia starting October 25.

"Every cricketer has a dream of playing for the country and I have no words to express my feelings. I will wait for the moment when I will be part of the Indian team's dressing room, where cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ] would also be present," 22-year-old Tyagi told PTI-Bhasha.

Tyagi, who plays for Chennai Super Kings [ Images ] in the Indian Premier League [ Images ], gave his coach Jitendra Vatsa the credit for his selection to the national side.

Tyagi is the only second cricketer from the city after Suresh Raina [ Images ] to have made it to the national team.