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With a match-winning 77 runs against India Seniors in the TVS Salve Challenger series, Sridharan Sriram is set to stake claim for a berth in the India squad.

After Wednesday's 84-ball effort, which saw India A pile 275 runs, Sriram attributed his fine showing to Sachin Tendulkar's presence at the other end.

"Sachin calmed me down. I was nervous initially but he encouraged me. He told me, 'just watch the ball; don't worry about anything else. Even if you play out a maiden, don't take singles, don't get the boundaries, don't worry about it. I will take care of the score till you get in'," Sriram said.

Sriram, who had a successful tour of England with the India A side, scoring two centuries and two fifties despite missing most of the tour matches due to injury, said he gained a lot of confidence batting with Tendulkar, which helped put together a decisive partnership with Rohan Gavaskar.

"Rohan and I were involved in some long partnerships in England [during the India A tour this

year]. We understood each other's game and that helped. Having played so much with each other, we didn't even have to do much calling; just eye contact was enough when running between the wickets," he said.

His 77 contained only four boundaries, an indication of his ability to pick singles and find the gaps at will.

Sriram, who started off as a left-arm spinner, has been knocking on the doors of the national team for a long time. Six random chances in the one-dayers and a pathetic batting average of five from them fail to showcase the talent of the Chennai batsman, who holds the record double of completing 1000 runs in a single Ranji Trophy season with five centuries.

The Chennai southpaw picked 29 wickets on the India under-19 tour of South Africa in 1992-93 before leading the team against Australia in 1994-95.

Indeed, it has been a hectic few months for Sriram, who signed off the recent England tour by smashing century against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He and Wasim Jaffer, who cracked a double-century on the tour, added 300 runs in three hours to save the match.

"It was very satisfying for me to be unbeaten on 104 after I almost missed playing in England

with my early injury scare," he says.

Sriram says he learnt a lot at the just-concluded conditioning camp by just watching Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar bat.

"Rahul in the nets is an education for me. The way he plans his net sessions, the things he tries out, it is so professional and sorted out," he said.

Not one to be fazed by setbacks, the 27-year-old is set to make his mark in the Challenger and be part of the tough Indian campaign that lies ahead later this year.

A reliable number three batsman, he has opened for his state and is ready to fit into the Indian side at any position.

"Cricket is all about adaptation. I believe I am playing well and, without looking back, I want another shot at international cricket," he declared.