Mishra gives us more options: Srikkanth

Mohali: Amit Mishra has just complicated Anil Kumble's return to the side with a dream Test debut but chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth is not worried by this problem of plenty and believes instead, it only increases options.

Amit, drafted into the side in the eleventh hour after Kumble was ruled out because of a shoulder injury, became only the sixth Indian to claim a five-for on his debut Test.

With Kumble almost certain to recover before the third Test in Delhi, selectors and team management would have difficulty to accommodate both the leg-spinners but Srikkanth is not worried.

"I welcome healthy competition and it's a good sign for Indian cricket. Now we know we have more options and our effort would be to ensure that the best Indian team walks out to play," Srikkanth said here on Sunday.

"As selectors, our job is to pick the best Indian team," Srikkanth added.

Highly impressed with Amit's debut, Srikkanth said the leggie lived up to the expectations of the selection committee.

"When we named him in the squad, people wondered where he came from. He has answered that today. He is a brave bowler, has a big heart and has a quiet confidence about him. We took into account his past records.

"He has been around in domestic cricket for seven years, has taken 300 wickets and did extremely well in the A series. Besides, he was impressive in the Indian Premier League as well. Now when a leg-spinner shows so much control in the Twenty20 format, you have to acknowledge that he is really good," Srikkanth said.

"Besides, we wanted to reward performance in domestic cricket. Cricket is a game of confidence and he does not lack it. I saw this attitude in him in Bangalore and was very impressed with the way he went about his job.

"The way he got rid of Michael Clarke was pretty impressive. People thought he would bowl into the rough but he surprised all and came round the wicket to bowl that googly from an angle and removed Clarke. That was a beauty," Srikkanth added.

Overall, Srikkanth felt India put up a good team effort that has put them in the box seat in this Test.

"I think it was a great team effort. Sourav Ganguly hit a brilliant century and got good support from (MS) Dhoni and (Sachin) Tendulkar.

"In the second innings, (Virender) Sehwag and (Gautam) Gambhir gave a great start and among the bowlers, Harbhajan (Singh) bowled with lot of heart and Zaheer (Khan) and Ishant (Sharma) were outstanding. This team effort is what we have been looking for," the chief selector said.