Chawla drew the attention of the selectors with that Tendulkar's wicket and, at 17, he made his Test debut versus England at Mohali in 2006.
"I was a 16-year-old kid playing against someone who had ripped apart almost all of the great bowlers. I went into the match with the mindset that I had nothing to lose. I thought if he hits me around, so what, he's done that to a lot of bowlers over the years. But before the match, I also dreamt of getting him out, which came true. He later told me 'Well bowled'. I think he was a little embarrassed at being dismissed by a 16-year-old," said Chawla.
However, the Uttar Pradesh spinner is today struggling to resurrect his international career.
"I never thought after my debut that seven years later, I would have only played (just) two more Tests. It hurts a lot but I am still learning and waiting for my next chance to play for India," added Chawla.
Chawla's last Test was against England in Nagpur last year, where he took four wickets. But the selectors have ignored him since then. Like Gautam Gambhir, Chawla too is trying to regain his lost form with some county experience. He will play for Somerset for the remainder of the Division One season. He has replaced Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who is currently touring Zimbabwe with his national side.
"It is an exciting challenge and I have not set myself any specific goals or targets in terms of runs or wickets. I would like to do my best and enhance my reputation as a cricketer," said Chawla. This will be the 24-year-old's second stint in England after he featured for Sussex four years ago. "The spell with Sussex was a massive boost for my career. I want to do as well for Somerset as I did with Sussex."
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