He was a key member of India's Twenty20 World Cup-winning team and the ODI team's unexpected triumph in the CB tri-series in Australia last year.
The 21-year-old Mumbai batsman has now broken into the Indian team for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka.
While expressing delight on making it to the Test squad, he is careful not to let the occasion get the better of him,
In an exclusive interview with Special Correspondent Harish Kotian, the right-hander looks back on his successful run in international cricket thus far.
What was your reaction on being picked?
I am very happy on being selected. Considering that I am just 21, it is a great feeling.
Last June you made your international ODI debut, and now, a year later you are selected for the Test team.
I am aware I need to continue the good work I have done in the last one year. I know Test cricket is not that easy and realise I need to work hard and stay focussed. I will just keep working on my strengths and look to improve.
What have you learnt in your first year in international cricket?
The first year has been very good. We won the Twenty20 World Cup and then won the CB tri-series in Australia. These two tournaments were not that easy, so winning them both was quite special and it was quite memorable.
I believe I am more matured now than when I was a year back. Obviously, being with the Indian team you get to learn a lot; so I have gained a lot in this last one year and I believe I am a much-improved player now.
Twenty20 is become a huge hit worldwide. How much importance does Test cricket hold for you? Do you rank it higher than the other formats of the game?
All three formats are equally important for me. I would not say Test cricket or ODI cricket or Twenty20 is more important than the other. My aim is to do well in all the three formats.
With so much cricket being played nowadays, how does a batsman get time to adjust to the different formats?
It depends on the individual players as to how they adapt to the different formats. It is very important to adapt according to the situation of the game in each format. It all depends on how quickly you can adapt in each format.
But, if you ask me, I will try and play according to the situation. I will not change my approach.
You were not among the runs in Bangladesh and during the Asia Cup. Have you identified the areas you need to work on?
There are quite a few areas I know I have to work on. There is no particular one area, but I believe I should be more consistent like I was in Australia during the CB tri-series and the IPL. It is important to score runs consistently and I am focussing on it.
You played against Ajantha Mendis and Muttaiah Muralitharan during the Asia Cup. Both will bowl a lot during the Test series. How difficult was it playing against them?
We had not played Mendis before that match (the Asia Cup final). That is why I think we failed against him. It was the same when I played Muralitharan for the first time. I just could not read him and got out early.
And Mendis has that weird action... so it is not easy when you play against him for the first time. But the more you play against him, the more comfortable you will get and you will be able to read him.
I do not have many problems playing against Muralitharan because I have played a lot against him. But when I faced him the first time, he got me out early and the same thing happened against Mendis too. I am sure if I keep playing Mendis more often I will be able to do well against him.
Do you have any idea of the conditions you will encounter during the Test series in Sri Lanka?
I have played in Sri Lanka before so I have an idea of how the conditions will be like during the Test series. We have also played their bowlers recently during the Asia Cup so we have a fair idea on their team and conditions. I am sure that playing Murali and Mendis won't be a problem.
Will it be helpful having the senior players back in the squad or will it be a distraction?
I think it will be really helpful to have all the seniors back. They have played a lot of cricket, have so much experience, so there is so much to learn from them. In the dressing room, they give you so many tips that really prove helpful.
