Waiting for 5 yrs was difficult: Mishra

Amit may have been a replacement for Kumble, but his performance in Mohali has meant that won8217;t remain his calling card for long.

Amit Mishra may have only been a replacement for Anil Kumble, but his performance in the first innings of the second Test here has meant that that won8217;t remain his calling card for long.

And Mishra, to his credit, is happy to savour the moment, not thinking too far ahead. 8220;I am here to perform well for India and get wickets. I am not thinking much about other things,8221; an elated Mishra said after the third day8217;s play. 8220;I went into the match with a positive frame of mind. My approach was to go for the wickets and am glad I did exactly that.8221;

Each of Mishra8217;s wickets came when India needed something extra to stay ahead. The leggie, though, feels Michael Clarke8217;s wicket on the last ball of the second day turned the game his and India8217;s way. 8220;That was a planned delivery. I knew he was under pressure so I bowled a googly from around the wicket. I think he didn8217;t expect or read it,8221; Mishra said, adding, 8220;I would like to dedicate my debut performance to the Haryana Cricket Association president Ranbir Singh Mahendra. He has backed me and asked me not to feel down.8221;

Chairman of selectors K. Srikkanth said Mishra8217;s track record on the domestic circuit proved his credentials. 8220;Mishra is a very talented spinner. He has been performing quite well in domestic cricket for the last seven years. His inclusion was taken into account keeping his phenomenal track record in the domestic circuit. I am elated with his performance. I reckon getting Michael Clarke out in the last over with a surprise delivery was a commendable effort from him.8221;

Mishra made his debut with the ODI team in 2003 but was dropped soon after. He, though, feels that the toil in domestic cricket for these five years has actually done him good. 8220;It was a difficult phase but an enriching one, helping me gain maturity and temperament. I also picked up few variations in my bowling,8221; he said.

Meanwhile, speaking to 8216;The Indian Express8217; from Dwarka Gujarat, his coach Sanjay Bhardwaj said: 8220;Amit belonged to a middle-class family and he told me he wanted to become a professional cricketer so that he could earn for his family. I am happy for him.8221;