Karn Sharma version 2.0

Karn Sharma's last 12 months epitomise how elongated an IPL-to-IPL cycle actually is for a modern-day cricketer. Ever since the legspinner impressed everyone with his accurate bowling in IPL 2014, he has earned the India cap in each of the three formats. Still, come IPL 2015, and Karn was forced to the fringes of the national squad and had to again start the long road ahead.

"It's been a very good journey. Sunrisers picked me in 2013 and I am glad I have delivered for them for two years. I got benefited from it as I could perform better in IPL and Ranji Trophy, which eventually helped me realise my dream of playing for India," a relaxed Karn says as he settles into a sofa at the hotel that has been "home" for two months for the third year in succession.

"Playing for the country was the biggest dream I had cherished and I am delighted I have been able to achieve it. Hopefully I can play more for India and do the country proud."

He has no qualms in admitting his Test debut was far from ideal. Still, he stresses on the learnings during his two-month stint in Australia.

"I was bowling with a red Kookaburra for the first time and it becomes a different ball game altogether. Especially for a spinner, it becomes tough to bowl with a Kookaburra instead of SG Test balls. Took me some time getting used to it but thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall it was a very good experience.

"It was a big thing to play a Test match. Obviously there was much pressure. Result didn't go my way but it's just the beginning."

In many ways, he seems to have accepted that the Adelaide Test has brought him back to the starting point. For someone who sprinted his way to the Test cap, it might well turn out to be a marathon if he is to earn another Test call. It reflects in his answer when one asks him what the biggest learning of his Australia tour was.

"The biggest learning was opportunities don't come often. I lacked a little bit when it came to grabbing mine. Now I will have to wait for the next chance for proving myself," Karn says.

Karn's has been a classic case of inexplicable selection policies. Primarily based on his limited-overs' exploits, he was selected for Test matches. Since he couldn't capitalise on the only opportunity he got, he was then ignored for India's World Cup squad.

Does he feel disappointed for being ignored for the World Cup based on Test performance? His face drops but he quickly recovers, coming up with the standard answer of it being the "selectors' prerogative" and he can "only perform" on the field. But he stresses that the last year has made him a more mature cricketer and a wiser individual.

A wiser Karn has started his second stint on a bright note. In his last two years with Sunrisers, he was Amit Mishra's understudy for the Hyderabad-based franchise. Come 2015, with the management having released Mishra, Karn is the lead spinner for his team. Though he has not excelled in the role, he has had a decent outing in IPL 2015 so far, picking nine wickets, conceding just under eight runs an over.

"It's been a different experience. Mishi bhai [Mishra] used to share a lot, both on and off the field. Now I am the lead spinner. Shows I am improving and this will help me in the coming years," he says.

Had it not been for the IPL, Karn would have perhaps continued to toil for Railways in first-class cricket. Not only would he have missed out on a jackpot but he would have also found it difficult to feature in all the formats at international level.

Karn agrees the IPL has helped him a lot. "After all, the amount of exposure and reach we get while playing IPL is much much more than what we get by playing Ranji Trophy. Moreover, competing and performing against international cricketers is a big deal, so that makes it count as well."

Over the next three days, if he is able to contain two line-ups that feature some of the most lethal power-hitters in the game and get his team into the playoffs, Karn would have taken a big step forward in making a case for featuring in India's squad for a short tour to Bangladesh next month.