It is a dream come true: Paul

From a small village in Bengal to gaining entry into the Indian team for the Mumbai Test, it has been an arduous trek for Shib Shankar Paul.

From a sleepy village in North Bengal to his gaining entry into the Indian team for the coming Mumbai Test against Australia, it has been an arduous trek for Bengal pacer Shib Shankar Paul who considers his selection as the realisation of a childhood dream.

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The 24-year-old cricketer's cellphone has not stopped ringing ever since news filtered out that he has found a place in the Indian team for the fourth Test against the Kangaroos, scheduled to begin from November 3.

"I still can't believe it that I shall play with my childhood heroes like Sachin Tendulkar... Since my childhood I have dreamt of representing India. Now I am only looking forward to doing well with the ball provided I'm included in the final XI," Paul, a resident of remote Tufanganj sub-division in Cooch Behar district said.

Paul, who came to the metropolis as a 15-year-old in 1995 to hone his cricketing skills, got the national call up after a consistent performance since last year when he emerged as Bengal's highest wicket taker with 63 scalps and also did well for the India A team in Kenya and Zimbabwe.