IPL gave me the confidence: Kulkarni

Mumbai youngster Dhawal Kulkarni on Friday said his selection to the Indian Test squad for the tour of New Zealand was reward for his hardwork.

"I am very excited and very happy to be a part of the Indian team. I have worked very hard for it and I think this is the reward," he said in an exclusive interview with rediff.com.

The 20-year-old, with a season haul of 42 wickets, played an instrumental role in helping Mumbai win the Ranji Trophy for the 38th time.

But he believes that it was his stint with the Mumbai Indians in the inaugural Indian Premier League tournament that gave him the confidence to move up a level in his career.

"I think the confidence I got from my performances in the IPL helped me a lot in my first season in domestic cricket. I interacted with so many great players during the IPL and it boosted my confidence," he said.