REECE Topley is still pinching himself at the prospect of playing in this month’s ICC World Twenty20.

The Colchester & East Essex member, who left Essex for Hampshire in September, is part of a 15-man England team heading to India on Monday.

Eoin Morgan’s side will compete in Group One and face the West Indies, on March 16, South Africa, on March 18, the Group B qualifier – Scotland, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan or Hong Kong – on March 23 and Sri Lanka on March 26.

And Topley, the son of former Essex hero Don, says it a lifelong ambition to share a stage with the cream of Twenty20 talent.

“To be selected for this tournament is a dream,” said the 22-year-old.

“I never take anything for granted and it’s going to be a huge pleasure and privilege to represent my country again.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in front of capacity crowds and learning more about the Indian culture.

“I’ve seen and read so much and can’t wait to be part of something so special.

“I keep pinching myself to think that I’m going to be playing against world-class players that I’ve been watching for years – the likes of (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, (Virat) Kohli, (Lasith) Malinga, (Shahid) Afridi, (Brendon) McCullum, (AB) de Villiers, (Hashim) Amla and (David) Warner.

“There will be nerves, of courses, but more than anything I’m looking forward to it and can’t wait to get out there.

“This is what I’ve dreamt about for years, playing at this level with some of the greats of the game, and I’m hoping my bowling style will be suited to the drier, lower sub-continent conditions.

“Of the four group games, the first two are absolutely huge, against the West Indies and South Africa.

“If we could pull off two victories, we’d have a real opportunity to qualify for the knockout stages.

“Two losses, on the other hand, would be unthinkable, although the nature of T20 cricket is that things can change very quickly, within a couple of overs.”

Topley made his England debut last September and impressed on their recent tour of South Africa, playing in the T20 and One-Day Internationals.

He claimed career-best figures of four for 50 in Port Elizabeth, in addition to another three wickets in the first one-dayer in Cape Town.

“I was extremely pleased with my overall performance,” said Topley. “Adapting to power plays and being asked to bowl at the death was really challenging but I enjoyed it and feel I contributed to many of our performances.

“I was very pleased to get my career-best figures and, overall, thought I bowled pretty well.

“There were a couple of things I would have liked to change, but you can’t always have it your own way.

“As a team, we performed well at times but the last couple of games were obviously slightly under-whelming.

“However, as a group we feel we can remedy that in India.”

Topley returned from South Africa with a slight shoulder niggle but has received treatment at Hampshire. He does not expect any problems in India.

Since the tour, he has spent time at his family home on the Essex-Suffolk border and at his new base in Hampshire.

A few of Colchester’s current first-teamers recently went down to visit him in Southampton.

England squad: Jason Roy, James Vince, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Sam Billings, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Steven Finn, Reece Topley, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson.