Mumbai: Forty-two-year-old leg spinner Pravin Tambe, drafted into the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for the first time today, is keen to carry the confidence earned from his stint in Indian Premier League into what would be his maiden first class game against Jharkhand from December 6.
"I have the experience of playing in IPL. But more than the experience, I have the confidence that I can bowl to good batsmen. I have to play with the same confidence here," Tambe told PTI after he was picked for the game against Jharkhand by the Mumbai selection panel headed by national chief selector Sandeep Patil.
Tambe earned his maiden call-up after becoming the leading wicket-taker in the Champions League T20 held in September and then adding 25 more scalps to his kitty in the ongoing local inter-club Kanga League tournament.
He scalped 12 wickets in five games at an average of 6.50 in the T20 League, and then picked up four five-wicket hauls in Kanga League A division for D Y Patil Sports Academy.
The spinner was expecting the call-up and said it was a dream come true to represent Mumbai.
"When I returned from Champions League T20, my performance in Kanga League was really good. I bagged three 6-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. If you perform well in A division and if the team needs spinners, then you can get into the team. I thought I could come into the team," he said.
"I have been playing Club cricket in Mumbai for so many years. To come into the Mumbai side itself is a dream. Whoever plays club cricket for Mumbai, their only dream is to represent Mumbai and that is a big thing for me," he added.
Tambe said playing in Ranji would be different from IPL.
"It is a different ball game. IPL has white ball and only four overs (for a bowler) and your intention is to pick up wickets as the batsmen keep hitting sixes. Over here you have to pick up wickets and as well as curb the runs. It is completely different," he said.
