Meet Team India's new speedster

The coach is not surprised with his pupil's success. "I knew he would make it to the big league one day. Now the time has come. I am sure he will perform great. He is here to stay in the Indian cricket team," says Shivakumar.

Sreesanth currently plays for Indian Airlines and is based in Delhi.

Sreeshanth's sister Nivedita, a television actress in Kerala, is all praise for her brother. "He is a god-fearing person. I think he has made it because of his deep faith to Guruvayurappan," she says. "And his favourite God is Ganapati."

Whenever Sreesanth is out to play, he calls home to tell his mother to light the lamp before the deity at home. "He insists that the lamp should not be put out till the play is over," says Nivedita.

"He believes that it is the might of god that he displays on the ground."

Soon after his return from Mohali, Sreesanth drove with his family to his favourite spot -- the Sri Krishna Temple at Guruvayur.

What helped him win the blue shirt? "I think my training in the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai helped a lot," Sreesanth says.

His career, by his own admission, has taken some interesting turns. Sreesanth began as a leg-spinner-cum-opening batsman. Later, he decided to become a medium-pacer.