espnstar.com’s Rajarshi Gupta spoke to Abhishek Nayar, who made it to the Indian team for the West Indies tour.

1307 runs from 23 first-class at an average of 43.56 and 54 wickets at 27.31. Here is a genuine all-rounder, up for grabs.

The 26 year old fire-packed cricketer finally made it to the Indian team for the four match ODI series in the West Indies by sheer dint of hard work and commitment.

"I was hoping the call would come for the Windies tour because after this series there was nothing much coming up for a long time," Nayar told espnstar.com.

Wouldn't the flat tracks in the West Indies be a huge dampener for his style of seam bowling in the middle overs?

"I have a lot of variation"

"Not really. If the tracks are slow and flat, I would use a lot of varieties to good effect. That would be the challenge and I would have to keep doing my best."

Nayar has been in exceptional form alright. In a star studded Mumbai team, the soft-spoken and immaculately mannered cricketer has been the most discussed aspect and wonder of wonders, the pressure has not got to him.

After India failed to make it to the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20, it was expected that the team would go through another phase of transition and Nayar's beckoning has hardly surprised anyone, least of all, the man himself.

"I have worked very hard for this moment. The time to learn has gone. I want to enjoy the pressure and make the most of it. It eventually boils down to your performance on the field. I hope all my plans work and I can contribute to the team."

Nayar, the eternal team-man

It is no secret in Mumbai's cricketing circles that Nayar is indeed a team man. In the Ranji final against Uttar Pradesh in Hyderabad in January, when his team was down in the dumps early on the first day, Nayar stepped up with a brilliant 99, partnering Rohit Sharma, to bail the eventual Ranji Trophy Champions out of a sticky patch.

And that was no weak UP attack, which boasted of RP Singh, Piyush Chawla and Praveen Kumar, all of whom are regulars with Team India.

Nayar, who is obviously a rookie at the international circuit and made no bones about the fact that he would be ready to bat anywhere skipper MS Dhoni wants him to for India.

"I am ready to bat anywhere"

Used in the middle order for Mumbai and as a floater by the Mumbai Indians, Nayar can clear the ropes with ease and he is aware of his talent but he admits he cannot choose, not yet.

"In my case, I can't be a chooser. Beggars can't be choosers, you see. I will take whatever comes along and would be happy to bat wherever the team needs me to bat.

"I have spoken to senior Mumbai Indian team mates like Sachin (Tendulkar), Sanath Jayasuriya and Shaun Pollock and have an idea what would be expected in the international arena."

Many feel Nayar deserved to make the cut earlier. But as they say, there is never a late moment for a true star to arrive. This is the moment of reckoning for Abhishek Nayar.