Crossword Genius

I’ll be critical about time needed for cryptic (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mysterious

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'for cryptic' is the definition.
(I know this)

'i'll be critical about time' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'time' could be 't' (abbreviation) and 't' is found within the answer.
'critical' could be 'serious' (similar in meaning) and 'serious' is found in the leftover letters.
The remaining letters 'my' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'needed' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mysterious that I've seen before include "Inexplicable" , "Spooky" , "Enigmatic, baffling" , "Beyond normal understanding" , "Strange" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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