Blackcaps rookie Adi Ashok has revealed his shock at receiving his maiden call-up, comparing the moment to having a bomb dropped on him.
Ashok, 20, was one of two uncapped players included in New Zealand's Twenty20 squad to tour UAE, alongside South Africa-born Dean Foxcroft.
The highly touted leg-spinner is currently playing club cricket in the UK, and even when he saw Blackcaps coach Gary Stead's incoming call, never entertained the idea of a call-up.
"It was pretty buzzy, because he called me late at night and I'm in the UK at the moment, and I wasn't really too sure what it was about," he said.
"We spent a couple of minutes talking about my summer here so far, and everything like that, and then he dropped a bomb at the end that he wanted me to come to the UAE.
"It was pretty surreal, and I didn't really get much sleep that night, it was pretty cool.
"I do have his number saved, but honestly, I thought he would talk to me about potentially some roles for the upcoming season and just checking in. But by no means, did I think I would be called up for a Blackcaps tour."
Despite being only 20 years old, Ashok's ascension through the ranks to the Blackcaps has long been touted.
He impressed selectors with his performances for Auckland in the Super Smash, where he took seven wickets at an economy rate of less than seven runs an over.
Ashok credited his meteoric rise to working with former Blackccaps leg-spinner Tarun Nethula, and not overcomplicating the art of spin bowling.
"Tarun is a massive one for me," he said. "I've done all of my bowling work with him ever since I was in high school, he's been massive for me.
"We've always just talked about simple things really, and cricket can be so complicated by the people that play it.
"Especially as a leg-spinner, understanding the ability to turn balls at pace both ways is a big strength of mine.
"Just adding new deliveries, a flipper, a slider, and everything like that. So, just tinkering with little things every now and again.
"And just tactically trying to make sure coming up against different batters, and different ways of playing spin, trying to tackle everything, and those are the things we talk about."
Ashok knows it would be foolish to get ahead of himself after receiving a call-up to the Blackcaps at such a young age.
He's approaching it as just another opportunity to keep getting better, and enjoy his moment in newfound surroundings.
"The way I see it is an opportunity for me to learn and get better as a cricketer, and that's my priority first and foremost," Ashok said.
"More than anything, it's an opportunity for me to play another game of cricket, which is the thing that I love doing.
"I'm not going to have any massive expectations, I'm just going to use it as an opportunity to learn and be around pretty cool people.
"Obviously, [I'm] grateful for the opportunity to don the fern and represent my country."
