Kerala seamer S Sreesanth said he did not expect to be picked in the Indian squad against Sri Lanka and probably his dismissal of star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman in the Challenger Series helped his case.
"I didn't come into this competition thinking I was competing with someone for a place in the Indian team," Sreesanth said after the 15-member Indian team for the first two one-dayers was announced in Chandigarh on Friday.
"Not even after I won the man of the series award last night did I think I would be selected to play for the country. It probably helped me that I picked up a couple of big wickets, including those of Sachin and Laxman," the Kerala speedster said.
"The entire Challenger experience was a wonderful learning experience for me. Every day, every moment, I learnt a little bit.
"The support from the senior players was extremely helpful, and I am sure the dressing room experience as part of the Indian team will add to my knowledge."
"Robin Singh sir (coach of India 'B') too helped me a lot," said Sreesanth who picked seven wickets from three matches in the Challenger Series.
The 22-year-old bespectacled lad missed most part of last domestic season due to a hamstring injury. But Sreesanth was happy that things had begun to happen for him in the new season.
"I will take things as they come. I will try and bowl to my strengths, do what I have been doing so far which is to keep it straight, keep it up and swing the ball."
Sreesanth also gave credit to MRF Pace Foundation for his improvement as a fast bowler in recent years.
"I have been with MRF for the last three years, and it is after going there that I got the right direction.
"All the credit for this goes to MRF. I also spent two years under Syed Kirmani at the zonal academy in Chennai, and that was a big step forward for me," he said.
Coach Greg Chappell also had words of praise for Sreesanth.
"From what I have seen in Bangalore and here, he has shown great attitude and work ethic. He has the talent," the Australian said after the Challenger Series final.
