CHENNAI, Dec 18: ``I am happy about it. I am looking forward to my first match and will perform to the best of my ability,'' remarked leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule on his selection to the 14-member Indian squad for the one-day internationals against world champions Sri Lanka, next week.

The Mumbai spinner, who replaces leggie Anil Kumble in the team, has bagged over 210 first class wickets and has five Ranji hundreds to his credit with a high of 134 not out against Karnataka in a 1993 quarter-final tie.

On the five-day Duleep Trophy match against Central in progress at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here, Bahutule, representing West Zone team, said: ``I am looking forward to bowl on the track. The ball is turning, but slowly. The wicket has some bounce also.''

Southpaw Hrishikesh Kanitkar, son of former Indian Test player, Hemant Kanitkar, told PTI he was happy to be in the squad. ``I am waiting for my first match,'' he said.

Kanitkar bowls off-spin and is an all-rounder. He got a look-in the Sahara Cup one-day series against Pakistan without playing.

The Maharashtra lad, who made his Ranji Trophy debut against Mumbai in 1994. He scored a double hundred (205) against Gujarat last year.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.