Like fellow opener Shikhar Dhawan did in the first innings, opener Abhinav Mukund grabs opportunity to score 81 as Virat Kohli's Indians take firm grip on opening Test
India opener Abhinav Mukund plays a pull shot during his innings of 81 against Sri Lanka on Day Three of the first Test in Galle yesterday. Pic/AFP
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Most cricketers have to deal with the uncertainties of sport on a daily basis and the ups and downs that life in the fast lane dish out, but few have to wait six years between international matches. Abhinav Mukund, who emulated Shikhar Dhawan in grabbing the rare opportunity that came to him through injury to India's first choice openers, had all but turned his back on the game not long ago.
In 2011, Abhinav made 49 at Lord's but was dropped just three innings later. Soon after, he was left out of the Tamil Nadu team as well. In 2014, Abhinav seriously contemplated giving up the game, spent two months simply watching movies and not so much as picking up a bat.
Second opportunity
When the chance came at Galle, it appeared that Abhinav had let himself down once more, failing in the first innings. But, if he was brooding about that, he did not let it show on the second day, producing two bits of fielding magic close-in, that allowed India to turn the screws on Sri Lanka. On the third day of the Test yesterday, Abhinav showed that he belonged at this level, scoring 81 in a 133-run partnership with Virat Kohli (76 not out) that allowed India to reach 189 for three and stretch their lead to 498.
When asked if he was a bit unlucky to be left out so soon after his Lord's innings, and not get a slightly longer rope, Abhinav broke into a wry smile. "I had a lot of time to think about it. I had six years to think about it. I think you had too. I don't want to talk about it," said Abhinav. "I have gone through my ups and downs, and that is a long time back. I don't even want to get there. I am happy I am back in the squad. I am disappointed I didn't get to three figures today but I am happy I want to be out in the middle and keep performing."
Abhinav, whose shots around the wicket kept India going at a fair clip, admitted that things had not been easy. "There was a point of time – I am very honest about it – that I was raring to even put on whites. I wasn't part of any team, I wasn't part of any first-class team. There was a time when I was dropped from my own first-class team," said Abhinav. "To have this opportunity to be part of the indian team is such a huge bonus. I take every game as an opportunity, that's all. If I am part of the team, not part of the team, again, I will try to do my best wherever I am."
Learnt from fielding lapse
When Abhinav was on the field as a substitute against Australia in the Pune Test, he dropped a fairly easy catch off Steve Smith at mid-off. Cursing himself, he used that to train harder, physically and as a fielder and batsman, to get back in the game.
"I felt really bad. That's all. Once you drop a catch, it is not like you can back and do something," said Abhinav. "It haunted me for a couple of times. Again I knew my opportunity would come where I could take something, I could prove that I was a good fielder at that position. Thankfully it came," he said.
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