For Punjab pacer Siddharth Kaul, cricket training is a family affair. His father Dr Tej Kaul, who has been his coach, continues to be a big influence on his career. The wait to get a call up from Team India has been like spending a lifetime for this cause.
He (father) blessed me and told me to remain grounded. My father has always been my coach. Even today any technical difficulty I have with my bowling, I consult him," said this new entrant into Indian dressing room after reaching here in Dharamshala for first One-day International to be played on Sunday.
"Also it helps that my elder brother Uday has been an established first-class cricketer and a wicket-keeper. When your brother is a keeper, you get first-hand input about how the ball is releasing out of your hand," Kaul said.
Kaul said that getting selected for national team is a process and he would continue working hard to get success at this level. "It's a great feeling. I can't describe it in words. It's a process and I shall keep following it. I need to do as per demands of the team," said the speedster.
When asked about how he felt after spending a day with Team India players for the first time, Kaul said: "It is a great feeling I can't describe what it is."
The right-arm medium pacer said he he is under no kind of pressure and is eager to give his best, if given a chance. "I am not thinking too much about that (competition). It is an honour to be picked for India, a dream come true. I am going into the series with a mindset that helped me do well in domestic cricket, IPL and India. I am ready to do what the team demands from me."
Kaul was told about his Indian team selection by a ground umpire when he was playing against Services in a Ranji game. He was left "numb" and kept silence for some time as he was not sure "how to react".
"I became silent when I was told about the selection. I just kept running and bowling, did not know what was happening around me. I feel blessed that I have got this call-up," Kaul said.
Having been a part of the same Under-19 squad, which won the 2008 World Cup under Virat Kohli's captaincy, Kaul had to spend following years sharpening his skills in domestic cricket.
Starting as a gentle medium-pacer, who used to bowl around 125 kmph, Kaul has managed to increase his speed (now around 135 kmph) in recent years and gives credit for the same to his trainer Sagar Diwan, who is now with the Punjab Ranji team.
"I have been training under Diwan since last two and a half years. I have underwent strength conditioning programme. That included a certain diet, then working out on the bowling muscles at the gym, and above all, a disciplined lifestyle," said the Pathankot-born speedster.
His 181 wickets in 51 domestic matches say a lot about his hard work on mostly slow and low pitches found in the country. "I have been picked in the IPL, India A and I've performed at all stages. The experience of playing domestic cricket in the last five years also helped my bowling.
"It has taught me how to bowl in challenging circumstances. I have grown playing these gruelling matches."
