Now that you are selected, what is your next goal?
As a child, I really used to enjoy looking at the past cricketers records and wanted to be the same kind of cricketer. I used to follow Don Bradman, Gary Sobers, Greg Chapell, and Kapil Dev. I really wanted to be the same kind of player, statistics-wise. Now I am in the Indian team, this the first station you can say, and I have to go far. I have to establish myself as a cricketer and become one of the good cricketers in history. I'll try my best. India hasn't had a good opener for a long time, then we had Ramesh coming in, I will definitely try to do my best for the country.

This morning, when you walked out to bat, what was going through your mind?
Well I know that the team was going to be picked today, so I was looking for a decent score. South Africa have a good bowling attack. I knew that Ramesh is injured and knew that if I do well I would be picked for the team. But unfortunately I didn't get much. But still, I am in the Indian team. It is a really nice feeling.

How was it facing Donald and Hayward?
I took my first guard against Donald and I knew that this man has taken 290 wickets in Test match cricket. It was really an experience, I can tell somebody that I have faced Donald. You don't get to play these kind of bowlers in Indian domestic cricket. Then suddenly, South Africa comes touring and you have to play them. Hayward was really quick.

You are making your Test debut at the Wankhede, which is your home ground. Is that going to be good for you or is it going to add to the pressure, that you are the local lad?
I think it is two-way thing. One is that if I make my debut then it is very nice to be making it in Mumbai, and the other thing is that everyone comes up to you and wants you to do well, which is pressure as well. So I have to see to it that I do well.