After being handed captaincy of India's Test team for the upcoming Pakistan series, an elated Anil Kumble exuded confidence, saying he is ready for the high-profile job.

"It is a great honour to captain the Indian cricket team. Every cricketer in India dreams of captaining the team. It is really great motivation for me personally and I am looking forward to the job," Kumble said.

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"It is a high pressure job and it is a challenge. Pakistan is a tough side," added the veteran leg-spinner, who has 566 scalps to his name from 118 Tests.

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Kumble, who has been handed the job following Karnataka team mate Rahul Dravid's [Images] resignation after the tour of England [Images] in September, said he never spared thought about leading the country.

"I think I came very close to becoming the captain when I was the vice-captain and there was a change of guard at that point when Sachin (Tendulkar) gave up the captaincy.

"I never thought about it and went about playing my game and ensured that I contributed to the team," he told CNN-IBN.

Though he has quit ODIs and shares the dressing room with his teammates only during Test matches, Kumble said he shares a mutual respect for others.

"It should be all right. I have played with everyone and respect is mutual. I have got all support from my team mates and waiting to be in the dressing room," he added.