Kolkata: Upcoming paceman Avishkar Salvi has found stepping into the shoes of the veteran Javagal Srinath a 'big challenge', and realises that he can be in the reckoning by virtue of sheer performance.
Having earned plaudits from India 'A' coach Ashok Malhotra for his highly successful showing in the Caribbeans, the 21-year old frail Mumbai player got a berth in the India team in the just-concluded tri-series in Bangladesh, where he bowled a disciplined line and length. "Salvi is a good prospect. He has a bit of pace, and it's good to see a youngster with a good height and action," national side coach John Wright said here on Tuesday. Seemingly far more confident in fielding scribes' queries now, than what he was before embarking for the Bangladesh tri-series, Salvi said he found the experience of playing for the national squad a matter of pride. "Every experience of playing for India is a matter of pride. It's a great experience," Salvi said, hours after returning from Dhaka. Asked whether the presence of Malhotra as stand-in-coach in the maiden encounter in Dhaka proved beneficial for him, Salvi said, "I was familiar with him from the Caribbeanseries. And that helped. But the senior team members also made things easy for me." Salvi, who got the selectors' nod only after pace spearhead Javagal Srinath decided to take rest after a strenuous World Cup and left-handed paceman Ashish Nehra opted out because of an injury, said that he found stepping in Srinath's shoes challenging. "If I have to fill up his place, I need to perform," he added. Salvi was also effusive in his praise for skipper Saurav Ganguly. "He is a very good captain. He doesn't make you feel that you are new to the team. He is quite helpful." Asked what went through his mind while playing the first match against Bangladesh, Salvi said, "My thoughts were all positive. I knew I'll have to perform." Salvi said he was keen to take part in the camp to be conducted by South African pacer Fanie de Villiers at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore soon. "This is the off season. So, we all have to train hard, you know," he said. On how he fine-tuned his game at the nets, Salvi said, "I try to maintain a good line and length."
Extras:What can I say, the final wasn't even played: Ganguly I share a good relation with BCCI: Wright
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