IPL: Imran Tahir gives the lowdown on his Rising Pune Supergiant team-mates

He may be the No 1 ranked Twenty 20 bowler in the world but Imran Tahir came extremely close to missing out on IPL 10.

Despite his fine form for South Africa, the leg-spinner was left unsold after the draft and only received a call-up from Rising Pune Supergiant a week before the tournament began.

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That has not prevented Tahir from making an instant impact, taking five wickets in his first two games, but he admits that being snubbed in the draft hurt him.

"It did. If I said that it didn't, I'd be lying to you," he told Sky Sports. "Life goes on, it's the franchises money and it is their call if they want to spend it on me.

"The only thing I can do is try and do my best for South Africa, I didn't get picked but what I have been doing for South Africa has pleased me more than coming here.

"Then I got a call and, there is nothing to prove, but I just wanted to be in the league because it's probably the best in the world and I just wanted to come here and perform really."

There are certainly no shortage of leaders in the RPS dressing room and Tahir is enjoying playing alongside the likes of MS Dhoni and Steve Smith.

"That's the beauty of this league, you meet so many different people and so many good players," he added.

"MS Dhoni has won everything and Steve Smith is one of the best players in the world. For me, playing with them is an absolute honour and I'm just trying to learn from them.

"They're very cool and relaxed guys, I get on well with them and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the tournament."

Watch Tahir in action when RPS take on Delhi Daredevils in the IPL from 3pm on Tuesday, Sky Sports 2.