After being handed captaincy of India's Test team for the upcoming Pakistan series, an elated Anil Kumble exuded confidence, saying he is ready for the high-profile job.
"It is a great honour to captain the Indian cricket team. Every cricketer in India dreams of captaining the team. It is really great motivation for me personally and I am looking forward to the job," Kumble said.
"It is a high pressure job and it is a challenge. Pakistan is a tough side," added the veteran leg-spinner, who has 566 scalps to his name from 118 Tests.
Kumble, who has been handed the job following Karnataka team mate Rahul Dravid's resignation after the tour of England in September, said he never spared thought about leading the country.
"I think I came very close to becoming the captain when I was the vice-captain and there was a change of guard at that point when Sachin (Tendulkar) gave up the captaincy.
"I never thought about it and went about playing my game and ensured that I contributed to the team," he told CNN-IBN.
Though he has quit ODIs and shares the dressing room with his teammates only during Test matches, Kumble said he shares a mutual respect for others.
"It should be all right. I have played with everyone and respect is mutual. I have got all support from my team mates and waiting to be in the dressing room," he added.