145;Not getting carried away146;

It8217;s been a couple of days since Amit Mishra ran towards the dressing room, souvenir stump in hand, after completing a dream Test debut in Mohali.

It8217;s been a couple of days since Amit Mishra ran towards the dressing room, souvenir stump in hand, after completing a dream Test debut in Mohali. The festive atmosphere at his home in Patel Nagar in West Delhi and several reminders of sudden stardom in the last 48 hours mean Mishra has only now begun to comprehend the significance of his achievement.

8220;Finally, it has sunk in,8221; he says. The perennial star of domestic cricket and a habitual chart-buster at the first class level is gradually understanding the consequences of a 8216;fiver,8217; wearing the India cap. 8220;Just yesterday, some of my out-station relatives came to our place for Diwali. They told me that once their auto reached Patel Nagar, all they needed to do was to ask 8216;where is Amit Mishra8217;s house?8217;,8221; he says matter-of-factly.

But besides the convenience of the visitors, the 25-year-old leggie now also deals with the inconvenience that comes with the territory 8212; a constantly ringing telephone at home and television crews on the prowl. 8220;This is going to be a different Diwali for us. This break between the two Tests is ideal for me as it gives me an opportunity to sit, think and not get carried away,8221; he says.

And it8217;s this realisation that makes Mishra less apprehensive and non-committal about his chances of retaining his place in the playing XI, in the backdrop of Anil Kumble8217;s improving fitness. 8220;I am not thinking of those things. If given a chance I will once again do my best,8221; says the man who finished with seven-wickets in the second Test.

While the issues of team combination for the Kotla Test starting October 29 leave Mishra tongue-tied, the excitement in his voice is hard to miss when talking about Mohali. 8220;People have appreciated my consistency and control, but these come naturally to me. For the last five years, since I was dropped from the Indian team, I have been trying them. Those days of hard work have been worth it,8221; he said.

Mishra confesses that his biggest advantage over the Australian batting line-up was the novelty factor. 8220;Since they had never faced me, it gave me an edge. It seems they didn8217;t have much data on me. But I know that when they face me next, things will be different,8221; he said.

He got dropped after just two ODIs in 2003, and while he did pick up wickets at the domestic level, it was the Indian Premier League that saw Mishra8217;s career take a U-turn. It was a lucky break since the leggie wasn8217;t quite in the scheme of things when Delhi Daredevils finalised their squad. 8220;Since Daniel Vettori was there for only a few games, there was a vacancy for a spinner. Someone suggested my name and Virubhai Virendra Sehwag gave the nod.8221;

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With comprehensive coverage of the IPL, Mishra was no longer showing his tricks in front of empty stands in the Plate Division. He finished with 26 wickets from 15 games, striking once every 11th ball. 8220;I think it8217;s because of the IPL that I got a place in the Indian team,8221; he says.

But even the IPL high didn8217;t quite give him the kind of popularity he now enjoys. 8220;Earlier, people said, 8216;That8217;s Amit Mishra, who once played for India8217;. Now, I8217;m signing autographs most of the time.8221;