Ahmedabad, Nov. 16: Having made the most of his last minute inclusion in the Sri Lankan squad with three Indian wickets, rookie left-arm pacer Chanaka Welegedara said it’s Sachin Tendulkar’s prize scalp which he cherishes the most.

Welegedara said it was a pleasant surprise when he was told, a few minutes before toss, that he would be playing in the series opener because first choice pacer Thilina Thushara had injured his shoulder on Sunday.

"Thushara was injured and they did not want to take a chance with someone who was not hundred per cent fit at the start of the series," said Welegedara, whose first spell of 3/28 in seven overs rocked Indian batting lineup. Opening the attack, the 28-year-old bowler, in only his second Test, sent back openers Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar. "I bowled in good areas and Sachin’s wicket was the best (of his three scalps)," he said.

Tendulkar struck a boundary off the first ball before being bowled through the gate by an in-swinger from Welegedara who has trained in the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai. Welegedara said that he played one Test (against England at Galle) in 2007 and then went out of the team as he had problems with running on to the pitch.

"I went out because I was running on the danger area but since then have improved on it," he said.

— PTI