After Yashasvi Jaiswal's Test debut, out-of-favour India opener eyes comeback to Indian squad by making every opportunity count

Out-of-favour India batter Mayank Agarwal is currently participating in the 2023 Duleep Trophy final.

SportsTak

• Thu • 13 Jul 2023

Out-of-favour India batter Mayank Agarwal is currently participating in the 2023 Duleep Trophy final. Representing South Zone, the veteran right-handed batter is trying to make every opportunity count as he attempts to make a comeback to the India squad. On Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy final against West Zone, Agarwal got a decent start but departed cheaply after scoring 28 runs. It was an opportunity gone begging for Agarwal, who has also fallen behind in the pecking order for Team India.

In limited opportunities, Agarwal enjoyed decent outings for India in red-ball cricket. He has scored 1,488 runs in 21 matches with the help of four centuries and six fifties. His average of 41.33 is not bad either but with so much talent to choose from, Agarwal seems to have fallen behind.

The Karnataka batter is not too concerned about being snubbed from the India Test side. Agarwal is focused on doing things that are under his control and then letting chips fall where they may.

"See, I am somebody who does not think too much about it. I have been dealt a hand and I don't have much control on what hand I have been dealt with. But I really want to put in everything from my side," PTI quoted Agarwal as saying.

"On every given opportunity, I want to go out there, score runs and win games. Whatever has to come its way, it will come," he added.

Agarwal played two outstanding knocks under tremendous pressure in the Duleep Trophy semi-final. In the first innings, the elegant right-handed batter scored 76 runs while he added another 54 runs in the second innings. In Ranji Trophy 2022-23, he led all batters in the run-scoring category.

The 32-year-old is approaching every tournament as another opportunity to score tons of runs and doesn't take it as pressure.

"I don't look at it as pressure, as I look at it as opportunity. Like I said, wherever I play, whichever tournament I play I want to go and get runs. I am somebody who I can ask myself some tough questions over the years," Agarwal continued.

"I play with a lot of intensity. I am a very intense character. But off the field I am relaxed. I know how to switch off with the Vipasana (a breathing exercise) and as you said being a father also adds a bit to it," he added.