South Africa In India

I was expecting the call, says Kaif after replacing injured Sachin
At the Cricket Club of India on Sunday, Mohammed Kaif is getting ready to enjoy a Mumbai evening. His body language is calm and facial expressions belie the excitement and the sea of emotions he must be going through. After one year and nine months he had been picked for the Indian Test team for the second Test at Ahmedabad.

He had replaced Sachin Tendulkar who aggravated his right groin injury while fielding during the South Africa's second innings on the fourth day of the first Test in Chennai. The injury had first troubled Tendulkar during the fourth Test against Australia Down Under. Although, the Board of Control for Cricket in India in their statement have only talked about Tendulkar's non-availability for the second Test, according to sources, Tendulkar is most likely to miss the third Test to be played at Kanpur too. Interestingly, Tendulkar had not given the fitness test held at the National Cricket Academy ahead of the Test series.

Kaif, who made his debut against the same opponents eight years ago in Bangalore, has played 13 Test matches. Talking to Mumbai Mirror Kaif said, "Basically, I was expecting it. I had a good domestic and India A season. I had scored some 1000-1200 runs. A bulk of them were scored on tough wickets so the call was kind of expected."

Kaif played his last series in the West Indies and made 148 in the second Test at St Lucia. And although his last two Test scores were of 13 and six, his form should have given him a longer stint with the Indian side. However, the 27-year-old looks at the events in a rather philosophical manner. "I had learned a lot during this period. I think whatever happens, happens for some good only. So I think there must have been some good reason of my being away from the Indian side."

"I must thank my supporters and those who stood by me in my bad period. I hope that the bad phase has ended and this selection will bring more good news for me in the future."

The selectors call to pick Kaif seems to be a logical one. They have picked a middle-order batsman for an injured middle-order batsmen and not an opener like Gautam Gambhir or Aakash Chopra.

Kaif knows he might have got a chance but the team is certainly going to feel Tendulkar's absence. "I have been picked, its good for me, but Tendulkar is injured and that certainly is a bad news for the Indian team. Captain Anil Kumble will never have wanted him to be out of the side. But now I have got a chance and if I play, I will try and make the best out of it."