For Abhijit Vasant Kale it's been a long and hard wait for national recognition. He was named in the Indian team for the tri-nation series, which also involves South Africa and Bangladesh, on Wednesday, and some may argue his selection has come a little bit too late, and, at 29, the Maharahtra batsman may be past his best. But he's done nothing wrong on the domestic scene to suggest that.
Currently, he averages 55.80 in 83 first class matches, with a career-best of 248 not out, and is fifth in the Ray-ban Indian domestic batting ratings, with 846.50 points.
Born on July 3, 1973, he did most of his schooling in Thane, near Mumbai. He played for the Mumbai under-15, under-17 and under-19 sides but getting into the senior side proved quite a task for the right-handed batsman, who also bowls occasional off-spin. However, he did not lose heart and decided to ply his trade elsewhere, for Maharashtra to be specific.
"I wanted to play for Mumbai and was even in the 30 probables for 3-4 years, but when there was no success forthcoming I decided to move to Maharashtra," he says.
In the long run, the move has paid dividends. His consistency in domestic cricket and the maturity he displayed on the India 'A' tour to the West Indies last month, forced the selectors to consider him after stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid decided to take a break due to injury.
Ask him about his idol and he laughs. "Sachin Tendulkar, he is the only one," he replies promptly.
Is he an aggressive batsman, like his idol, or is he more in the Rahul Dravid mould?
"I am an aggressive batsman but can adapt to a situation and play as it demands. I want to play my natural game and not be over-aggressive," he says.
Going into his first international series, in Dhaka, Kale certainly sound nervous. But, then, who wouldn't be.
"Getting selected to play for India is a great feeling and even if I don't play," he jokingly adds, "it's been worth the wait."
Kale started off as an opener in the junior ranks but since joining the Maharashtra team been batting in the middle-order. He dismisses all talk of setting his sights of returning to the opening slot.
"No, that's not right," he says. "I want to do well in the middle order for India. That is the position I want to succeed at," he declares.
He celebrated his call-up on Thursday with a well-made 98 in the Duleep Trophy match, against Elite 'A', even as the rest of his Plate 'A' team-mates struggled in the face of some good bowling, on a difficult pitch, at Hyderabad.
The Dhaka wickets will be tailor-made for batsmen and given an opportunity, Kale will be looking to make a place in the middle-order his own.
