Back in India's ODI squad after two years, opener Murali Vijay says he was expecting the call up after good performances in 32 Test appearances since 2008.
The Tamil Nadu batsman is part of a second string 15-man squad, led by Ajinkya Rahane, that will tour Zimbabwe next month for three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s.
"It is a happy feeling to make a comeback to ODIs. I have been batting well in Tests, so I just have to grab the opportunity that has come my way. As a player I was expecting the call-up. I was the third opener for four series, including the 2013 Champions Trophy, but could not get a game," the opener, whose last ODI was against Sri Lanka at Port of Spain in July 2013, told ESPNcricinfo.
"I have always believed in myself. It is not about competing with anybody. I always compete with myself and I look to improve as far as I can. It is not that I am going to play as a third opener and be happy. I will never be happy. I have always wanted to be the leading batsman for Indian cricket," added the right-hand batsman who has played 14 ODIs.
Despite not scoring a fifty in any of those matches, he is confident of doing well in the upcoming series.
"I have been working on my game, on my basics. I have been waiting for the opportunity without rushing myself. Before, when I got the opportunities, they were stop-start. Now that I have got another opportunity I am just happy and excited to go and express myself on the field.
"I am not a guy who will give excuses, but you have got to consider the number of matches I have played on the trot. That matters a lot as a batsman. It is not an excuse. I never got a string of ODIs or series. I had to adapt to that in the past," said the 31 year-old.
He dismissed talk of being suited for the longer format, saying: "I never see myself as seeing off a new ball. I always have the intent to play the ball. If the ball is not to be played, I leave it. It is not that I go in to bat with the intention that I have to leave these many balls. It is just that I want to play little more compact to have the upper hand against the bowler. That is my thinking.
"There are two ways to look at it: either you go aggressive or you go defensive. But all I want to do is give myself more confidence by countering an attack in a good spell in a proper way, and then I can cash in. So I am always thinking of attacking in my mind."
