From a team perspective, it made sense when Rohit Sharma emphasized the need for India to have a left-hander in their top order as he welcomed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening Test series match against the West Indies. But the statement may have come as a shock to a few other aspiring openers. Mayank Agarwal is one of them. Now the right-handed Karnataka will have to play the waiting game to make his comeback. Mayank last played for India against Sri Lanka in the Day-Night Test in March 2022 in Bengaluru. However, the positivity has not faded from the 32-year-old.
“Look, I’m a person who doesn’t think about it too much. I’ve been dealt a hand and I don’t have much control over which hand I’ve been dealt. But I really want to put everything on my part. At every opportunity I want to go out, score points and win matches. Whatever comes his way, it will come,” said Mayank.
When a player wants to make a comeback to the national team, he will have to collect a mountain of runs. Failure, even in one innings, is hardly an option.
Mayank was aware of the task ahead, but remained unfazed.
“I don’t see it as pressure, I see it as an opportunity. Like I said, wherever I play, whatever tournament I play, I want to go and get points. I’m someone I can ask myself some tough questions . over the years.
“I play with a lot of intensity. I’m a very intense character. But off the pitch I’m relaxed. I know how to switch gears with the Vipasana (a breathing exercise) and like you said, being a dad also adds a bit to it, ” he said.
Runs have also rarely dried up for Mayank in the domestic circuit.
The opener had scored 990 points in the 2022/23 Ranji Trophy season and he started the current semester with two fifties for South Zone against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinals.
Mayank was pretty happy with it too.
“I’m very happy with the way I got through the last domestic season. I’m happy to be able to accumulate points on difficult circuits.
“It’s something I’m proud of. Even in the semi-finals (Duleep Trophy) we were in trouble and it was nice to make those runs because the wicket wasn’t the easiest. It definitely feels really good to get a . to win the game. contribution,” he said.
Mayank couldn’t get off to a good start in the Duleep Trophy final, going for 28 off 47 balls.
But for him, winning the Duleep Trophy is just as important as meeting his personal targets.
“It is of the utmost importance. For me as a player I play to win and that is the intensity with which I play and all of us on the hard yards.
“The game in the semi-finals was very tight and you could see that winning that game meant a lot to everyone. We’re going to do everything we can and do our best to win the final,” he signed off.
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