Sreenath Aravind says he was expecting call-up to the Indian team

Aravind said that he was a much-improved bowler than in 2011, the first time he was selected for the Indian team

Karnataka’s left arm fast bowler Sreenath Aravind, who was called up to the T20 squad for India’s series against South Africa, said he was expecting the call-up to the national team, ESPNCricinfo reports. The 31-year-old thanked Zaheer Khan and Mitchell Starc for helping him improve his bowling and added that he is fully prepared to face the Proteas.

Aravind who rose to prominence with his stellar performances in the 2011 IPL season for his home franchise, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up 21 wickets in 13 matches earned his first call-up to the national team for the home ODI series against England later that year. He failed to make the playing eleven matches in any of the matches during the series and has been made to wait four years to earn his next chance.

Aravind is keen to make this opportunity count and said that he was expecting the recall this time around.

"I was so happy and excited when I heard of this call-up. It has been a long journey and I was expecting this," Arvind told bcci.tv. "In 2011 it was very surprising for me. This time, I was much more prepared. Since the last time, I have improved my bowling and worked really hard to get better as a bowler."

A spate of injuries since that first call-up had derailed his career, but the uncapped cricketer has made a brilliant comeback off late with his performances for his state team in the domestic circuit. He was the fourth highest wicket-taker in Karnataka's victorious Ranji Trophy campaign last season picking up 42 wickets at an average of 17.42 from ten matches.

Aravind stated that he is now fully prepared to meet the challenges of international cricket.

“Since the injury, I have improved my fitness levels, worked on my bowling action and in getting the right lengths," he said. "The work I have put into my fitness has also helped me add a couple of yards of pace in my bowling. Now I am much more experienced and I can handle the pressure in the right way. I have reached a place where I am mature enough to put all the pressure aside and focus on what needs to be done."

Aravind credits Zaheer Khan and Mitchell Starc for improvement in bowling

Aravind thanked Zaheer for helping him with his bowling as well as boosting his confidence

Aravind named fellow left-arm fast bowlers India’s Zaheer Khan and Australia’s Mitchell Starc for helping him make a better bowler.

"I have learned many things from him [Zaheer] as to what difference a left-arm pacer can make to the team," Aravind said. "He kept it very simple. He always talked about bowling hard lengths and reading the batsman so you can be one up against him. I also learned a lot from him in terms of forming different plans to counter each batsman based on his skills.”

He especially praised Zaheer for boosting his confidence.

“There was one thing he told me that has stuck with me. He said, 'We, as bowlers, have six balls in an over whereas a batsman, once he gets out, doesn't have another opportunity'. That mindset has helped me be more confident about my own bowling,” Aravind said.

Playing for RCB has helped Aravind interact closely with Starc, another bowler that found praise from the Karnataka seamer.

"Mitchell Starc has been very helpful. The most important thing I've learned from him was how to bowl yorkers effectively based on the wicket you are bowling on," he said.

Aravind looking forward to bowling to De Villiers

Aravind feels his experience of bowling against De Villiers in the RCB nets will come in handy

Another RCB player who Aravind has faced many times in the training sessions is South African ODI skipper AB de Villiers, arguably one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. Aravind though said that he was looking forward to the battle as he feels the experience he has gained will help him in the challenge.

"I bowl a lot to AB de Villiers in the nets and have learned many things about how to bowl to him. If I can share the information with my team-mates, it will help not only me but also the other bowlers when we play South Africa. AB gave me helpful pointers from the batsman's perspective when I bowled to him in the nets - what delivery he finds tough to deal with and how I can trouble the batsman more if I change the angle or the length," Aravind said.