I want to bowl like Zaheer Khan: Sudeep Tyagi

Rookie Uttar Pradesh pacer Sudeep Tyagi, the lone new face in the Indian squad for the ODI series against Australia, considers pacer Zaheer Khan as his role model and said he would try to justify the selectors' decision if he gets an opportunity to play.

"Zaheer Khan is my role model and I want to perform like him at the big stage. I want to follow his footsteps," an elated Tyagi said.

Tyagi was on Thursday named in the 15-member squad for the first two one-dayers of a seven-match series against Australia starting October 25.

"Every cricketer has a dream of playing for the country and I have no words to express my feelings. I will wait for the moment when I will be part of the Indian team's dressing room, where cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar would also be present," 22-year-old Tyagi told PTI-Bhasha.

Tyagi, who plays for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, gave his coach Jitendra Vatsa the credit for his selection to the national side.

Tyagi is the only second cricketer from the city after Suresh Raina to have made it to the national team.