There was nothing spectacular about Joginder Sharma's maiden appearance in One-Day Internationals. But the figures that went against his name on the scorecard show that he plays his game the hard way.
He could face only seven balls in the Indian innings and remained unbeaten on five. But he also bowled eight overs in two spells for 1-28, and took a well judged catch in the deep.
Importantly, he did not have an iota of stage fright. Playing for India A made him feel "normal", he said.
"I did not get enough time with the bat," was how he summed up his first game in India colours.
The 21-year-old lad from Rohtak, Haryana, belongs to a middle class family which depends on the meagre income earned from a paan shop business.
Yet, he talks about his India debut in the first One-Day International against Bangladesh in Chittagong on Thursday in a matter-of-fact manner.