Steve O'Keefe thought his Test career may be over six months ago, now he threatens to spin Australia to a famous victory over India that most pundits considered impossible.
O'Keefe grabbed six wickets at the cost of five runs in the space of 38 barely-believable minutes on Friday, helping Australia take complete control of the first Test in Pune.
The tourists will resume their second innings at 4-132 on day three, with Steve Smith unbeaten on 59 after being dropped three times on Friday.
Australia's lead is 298 runs, leaving them perfectly placed to push for a victory that would snap a nine-Test losing streak in Asia.
It would also be the nation's first Test win in India since 2004.
O'Keefe noted his jaw-dropping performance had yet to truly sink in.
"I think it will if that contributes to a win," the 32-year-old said.
"Going to Sri Lanka (last July) I thought was my big opportunity and I sort of messed that one up.
"I always thought the Indian tour was there but it was almost unreachable.
"It means a lot to do well but it is day three of a four Test series, so we are certainly not getting ahead of ourselves."
O'Keefe tweaked his hamstring during the first Test of Australia's 3-0 series loss in Sri Lanka last year.
Soon after returning home, the left-arm spinner was fined $10,000 by Cricket Australia (CA) for "offensive behaviour" at a Sydney pub..
O'Keefe returned to Australia's XI for last month's SCG Test then removed himself from the second half of the Big Bash League season, wanting to instead focus on the four-Test tour of India.
Monty Panesar, who helped pilot England to their shock series win in India during 2012, mentored O'Keefe at CA's training base in Brisbane.
Spin consultant Sridharan Sriram has been a big help since linking up with the Test squad for a pre-tour training camp in Dubai.
"Monty's been excellent. It was only for two days, but he instilled belief in what I was doing," O'Keefe said.
"The biggest influence has been Sri.
"I also worked with him in Chennai during the Australia A series (in 2015).
"He's a local who knows the conditions .. he understand how to bowl in these conditions and understands what the batters are thinking."
O'Keefe also paid tribute to skipper Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann.
"When you play under a captain who shows a lot of belief in you it's amazing what can happen," he said.
"I've got a good coach ... he's not afraid to tell it to your face and tell it to you straight."
India coach Anil Kumble, the former legspinner who claimed 619 Test wickets, praised O'Keefe but lamented "a couple of soft dismissals that pushed us back."
