After long wait, Kaul eager to perform in India colours

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I kept on playing and performing so that I could be ready when my chance would come. SIDDARTH KAUL, India pacer

DHARAMSALA: The Dhauladhar range adds to the beauty of the HPCA Stadium and one can’t help but take notice. India coach Ravi Shastri was no exception. At the start of the team’s practice ahead of opening match of the ODI series against Sri Lanka, Shastri called an attendant to click his pictures with the mountains in the background.

For Siddarth Kaul, appreciating the scenic beauty could wait. The team’s new pacer engaged in a game of football with team-mates straight away, realizing the importance of his maiden call-up to the national squad at 27.

“I am going through my regular process. I am continuing whatever I was doing in the Ranji season and for India A. I will keep doing those things and see what the team demands from me,” Kaul told reporters on Friday.

“The experience of playing domestic cricket for five years at the senior level has helped me (settle in). You get to play in different conditions while playing domestic cricket. You get knowledge of playing on different type of tracks.”

The Punjab pacer was part of the India U-19 team that won the World Cup under Virat Kohli in 2008. However, Kaul has had to wait to get a chance in the national side.

“I love this game and that kept me going. I kept on playing and performing so that I could be ready when my chance came. I have worked on my fitness too. I am ready to perform.”

The ground is known to support bounce but also helps the spinners. This is the first time HPCA is hosting a match in December.

With three pacers in the squad and a fast bowling all-rounder in Hardik Pandya, it would be interesting to see the combination India field. There was a touch of green on the pitch on Friday, but would be cut ahead of the match, according to a HPCA official.