Krishnappa Gowtham is hardly a newcomer to the IPL, having already represented the erstwhile Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. But he is getting goosebumps after being roped in for Rs 9.25 crore by three-time champions Chennai Super Kings.

The feeling of being the most expensive buy among Indian cricketers and fifth-highest overall in this year’s IPL auction hasn’t quite sunk in yet for the 32-year-old Karnataka off-spinner, who’s at present among the India net bowlers for the ongoing Test series versus England.

“I am not able to believe it. I’m still having jitters and nervousness... Guess you can gauge it from my voice,” a terribly excited Gowtham told The Telegraph from Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Karnataka coach Yere Goud, who knows a fair bit about Gowtham, urged him to now focus on making his place permanent in the India squad.

“Gowtham is using his experience, having played for India A, and has improved as a cricketer over a period of time.

“His main aim now should be to play for the country. Taken at such a huge price by Super Kings is obviously an incentive for him, but his objective should be to try and cement his place in the Indian team,” Goud emphasised.

Gowtham too believes he could be a transformed player and take his game to the next level in IPL 2021, thanks to this incentive. However, he also understands that evolving as a player will be crucial for his progress at the highest level.

“I feel you will see a few changes in me. But at the same time I do know that I need to keep evolving as a player. You need to evolve every day and learn a few more things.

“Getting better each day is my motto, so yeah, there is a possibility of seeing a tad different Krishnappa Gowtham.”

His biggest strength, according to Goud, is the ability to bowl with the new ball as well as in the middle overs. “The way Gowtham has bowled in both first-class cricket and the IPL, he has proved that he can bowl in the middle overs as well as with the new ball. He has gained in terms of experience too, which I said earlier.

“Plus he is handy with the bat. He has got the height and can also bowl those block-hole deliveries at the death. He definitely has that capacity.”

Eager enough to play under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and sharing the dressing room with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali, all Gowtham is focused now on is “controlling the controllable”.

“Look as a cricketer, we need to address our own issues. So yeah, I would look to improve in whatever task I have been assigned with. That’s something I will be looking forward to do, while you also need to keep in mind the fact that the scope of improvement continues to be there always.

“It’s about doing all that is in your control and going out there and doing the best you can. I’ll just try to do so. And if I am lucky and get the opportunity to represent the Indian team, I would love to do that,” Gowtham, who has so far had 166 and 41 scalps in first-class cricket and T20s, signed off.