The 24-year old paceman, who has been in the selectors' radar for a while, said he was surprised to learn from the KCA secretary Jayesh George about him being picked for the national side.
"I am feeling very proud and happy. But, I was surprised to learn from KCA secretary Jayesh George that I had been selected for the Indian team. It is a great moment as it has always been my dream to don the national colours," Thampi told PTI from Surat.
He is keen to help his state team reach the Ranji Trophy semifinals for the first time ever by putting it across Vidarbha.
"In the past one year, I have become a more confident bowler and I'm hopeful of doing well for India against Sri Lanka," said Thampi, who trains at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai under the watchful eyes of Australian legend Glenn McGrath.
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The Kerala bowler said he had learnt a lot from McGrath at the Pace Foundation, especially on the need to keep bowling with pace.
Having turned out for Gujarat Lions in this year's IPL and announcing himself as a man to watch for the future by unleashing yorkers at will, Thampi is now keen to do well at the international level.
"The IPL this year was a turning point in my career, especially the match against Mumbai Indians. In my last two overs I bowled something like 10 yorkers to batsmen like Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard. This got me noticed," he said.
"It want to bowl and M S Dhoni to keep. It has been a long-time dream of mine," he added.
The performance in the IPL gave him the confidence to bowl well against different opposition, he said and added that he carried it forward into the "A" team matches and the Duleep Trophy.
Thampi, while playing for India "A" against New Zealand "A" in a one-dayer in Visakhapatnam in October, removed three rival batsmen in four balls to trigger a collapse.
He has been in good form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy tournament too and has picked up wickets with telling yorkers.
Former India pacer Tinu Yohannan, who is bowling coach for Kerala currently, said it is "a well-deserved break for Basil."
Also, he said his consistent performances in various tournaments had earned him a spot in the national squad.
"Really proud moment for us in the Kerala team and Kerala cricket. His consistent performances from last year's Syed Musthaq Ali Trophy has earned him a call now," Yohannan said.
"He is in really good shape and perfectly ready for the opportunity," the player-turned-coach, who featured in three Tests and three ODIs for India, said.
Former Australia cricketer and well-known coach Dav Whatmore, who is coaching the Kerala team this year, also heaped praise on Thampi and said he had great potential.
"Very happy for Basil. He's got great potential and in time I feel will play in other formats," he said.
MRF Pace Foundation head coach Senthilnathan said it was a great moment for the academy as Thampi got a national call- up.
"It is a great moment for us (at MRF Pace Foundation). Thampi has put in a lot of hard work and learnt from McGrath. He has to continue the good work and make it in the other formats too," he added.