Calcutta: Karun Nair is thankful to Rahul Dravid who has given him the "right confidence" both as a senior figure in Karnataka cricket and as a mentor of Rajasthan Royals. It was thus in the fitness of things that Nair was informed of his Test call-up by the former India captain, who is currently the India A coach.

"He has been a great influence on me and has given me a lot of confidence in my batting," Nair said at the SSC ground in Colombo on Wednesday. "And he just keeps pushing me in the right way, he has always been positive. He has a lot of positive words for me and he hasn't changed too much of my technique or hasn't changed too much of the way I bat. He has just been giving the right confidence that a young player needs.

"He doesn't talk much, doesn't get into details much... He lets you play the way you have been playing all your life. He gives you the freedom to go there and express yourself."

Just like any other cricketer, getting an India call-up is a stuff of dreams for the 23-year-old Bangalore boy. "It's a dream come true for me. For any Indian cricketer, it is a dream to play for your country, so I am really excited to be part of this team. And I am looking forward to every opportunity that I get," said Nair after taking part in his maiden practice session with the senior national side.

For Nair, it is all about soaking in the atmosphere of the Indian dressing room.

"I have just had a first session, so nothing much has happened yet. But it's a great feeling to be a part of this dressing room, walk into it and talk with everyone. I spoke with Ravi Shastri and he told me to keep playing the way I have played so far and not change anything," he added.

Nair said that it would not be a problem to adjust to the new dressing room as he has played with most of them for a number of years now. K.L. Rahul and Stuart Binny are his statemates.

Binny along with Ajinkya Rahane has played with him for Rajasthan Royals while he recently had a reasonable partnership with Virat Kohli playing for India A. "I have been playing with them for quite a lot of years now. It does help and I have spent time with most of them.

And Virat came to Chennai for the India A game before this tour and he has been part of RCB (for whom Nair played before being snapped up by the Royals) as well. So it's great to be part of this team and I am enjoying every part of it."