Gurkeerat, Aravind taken aback by India call-ups

As soon as S Aravind and Gurkeerat Singh walked into the conference room, the media manager asked who wanted the first question. The journalists, though, suggested the players begin by saying something of their own first. Both men looked equally hesitant, but the responsibility eventually fell on Aravind.

A little nervous, he paused a bit and then said "thanks for the selectors who trust us", and added he was "thinking about how we both got selected. We were very happy for this."

Then came the questions, the first on whether they honestly expected to be picked. It was Aravind who went first again. "Unexpected this is," he said. "I was just thinking about the India A game. I was not thinking about this [selection]."

It was then time for Gurkeerat, who until then had been fiddling with his phone. "I think it's the same here. As I told you in the previous press conference, I don't think about future and I take every single game on its merit.

"Great opportunity for a youngster like me to play against a very good side. Jab se pata laga, tab se abhi tak to thoda shock mein hi hoon [From the moment I got to know, I've been in a bit of shock]," he said with a laugh, "but it's a very good feeling."

Listening to them speak one after the other, the contrast was hard to miss. While Aravind spoke in staccato bursts garnished with a thick south Indian accent, Gurkeerat's Punjabi drawl had a lyrical lilt to it. It would be easy to try and pick on these contrasts and play them up as opposites, but in reality they have more than one similarity. A sense of humour for starters.

Their responses to questions on when they learned of their promotions elicited a chuckle. "I think I came to know only when we had bowled 10 overs," Gurkeerat said. "People started shouting from behind so that's how I came to know. But everything was fine. I was focused on the game."

Aravind admitted to having no clue about it until the end of the game. "I never realised [until then]. So, after the game they were congratulating [me and] I thought [it was] because I bowled well. Later on, I got to know about this. I was very happy."

On a more serious note, their inclusions in the national side have one common thread - solid performances at the domestic level.

Gurkeerat was Punjab's highest scorer in the last Ranji Trophy, with 677 runs from 14 innings at an average of 56.41 and Aravind, six years senior at 31, was Karnataka's second-highest wicket-taker with 42 scalps at 17.42. Both players also found the IPL to be an important step towards national contention.

Although neither had a particularly impressive season this year, IPL 2015 had been where Aravind got to pick the brains of Mitchell Starc, whom he termed a "role model" alongside Wasim Akram and Zaheer Khan.

"I learnt [from Starc] how to develop myself as a bowler," Aravind said. "I have learnt how to overcome the batsman from Starc, what they are thinking, Plan A, Plan B, bowling over-the-wicket yorkers and how to attack the pads or wicket, so it's been valuable."

Gurkeerat said he looked up to MS Dhoni as he could relate to his style of batting. "We bat in almost the same batting position. I relate to his game a lot, and whenever I watch India play I focus a lot on his batting because I get to learn a lot."

In the past, Gurkeerat has kept wicket for Kings XI Punjab, but said that bowling was undoubtedly the stronger suit. "I used to do wicketkeeping when I was in school," he said. "In IPL, Gilly [Adam Gilchrist] got injured and they asked me [if I could step in] and I said yes because that time I just wanted to play in the XI. But in my mind, I always knew that I can bowl better. For the team, my bowling can be helpful."

His bowling has certainly been more than helpful in the series against Bangladesh A, where he picked up five wickets in the first match. "[For my] bowling, I have been taking advice from Bhaji paaji [Harbhajan Singh] because we have been lucky enough to have him with us in the Ranji season," Gurkeerat said. "Whenever I had a problem in bowling, I always went up to him and he was kind enough to help me."

Over the next month or so, both Aravind and Gurkeerat would have plenty more to learn.