Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Off to a flying start
|
He’s only 17, but has already a couple of hundreds to his credit in Ranji Trophy matches. Meet batsman Abhinav Mukund
|
PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Southpaw Abhinav Mukund
Listen carefully and you can hear the rain drops falling on roof and turf. They have a rhythm of their own.
Young Abhinav Mukund realises inclement weather is part of cricket’s rhythm. He shrugs and watches the sky. It’s still grey and cloudy but he waits.
He comprehends an opener has to be patient. Abhinav is all that and more.
A persistent downpour had ruled out any play on the second day in the Tamil Nadu-Rajasthan Ranji Trophy Super League game at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
To make matters worse, Abhinav had been dismissed early on day one, securing an edge as he attempted to clip one on the on-side. And then he waited and waited in the dressing room.
For a left-hander who has learnt to sprint with a waiting game, the situation was paradoxical. He is young and is learning; the next time he bats, Abhinav would strive to be tighter with his leg-side game.
Relishes long stints
Actually, Abhinav relishes long stints. He is the first Indian to notch up a double hundred and a century – India vs Sri Lanka in Kandy this year – for the country in under-19 internationals.
Then, he made the transition to the senior ranks effortlessly with successive hundreds in his first two Ranji Trophy matches and missing a third by one stroke. He is only 17.
“He has made a flying start, the kind of beginning people wish for,” says Tamil Nadu coach W.V. Raman. The former India cricketer adds, “He has a good head. Has been shifted up and down the order at the under-19 level and has taken it in his stride. This is a great sign in a youngster. He is not fixated at all about where he bats. He has a clean mind, is not confused. He can adapt and is not intimidated by reputations.”
These are rare words from a coach who does not normally shower praise.
“All my knocks for the State have been different,” says Abhinav. “My century against Karnataka was a free-flowing one with a lot of cover-drives (his favourite stroke). I struggled a bit initially against Sourashtra but my partner M. Vijay encouraged me to stay put at the wicket. I got a second innings 96 against Himachal Pradesh. Himachal has a good left-arm paceman in Ashok Thakur. And off-spinner Sarandeep Singh was extracting appreciable turn from the third day. It was a satisfying knock.”
He is not talking about numbers alone. He is already stressing on contributing to the team’s cause. Abhinav’s chemistry with his opening partner rocks. Abhinav and Vijay are a left-right opening combination with immense possibilities.
Evolving as batsman
Abhinav is evolving as a batsman. Raman, he reveals, has worked on different aspects of his game. “He shortened my back-lift and made my bat come down straight. I was playing a lot squarer initially. Now, I am playing in the ‘V.’”
Over to Raman, “I told him, for an opener, it was not as much about getting the runs as staying in the first two hours and he understood.”
Abhinav realises that the left-handers have certain inherent advantages but understands the value of ‘playing’ and ‘leaving’ for a top-order batsman. Blunting an attack is as important as dissecting it.
The young southpaw has been able to impress the coaches. Lalchand Rajput, who guided the aspirants during the under-19 tour of Sri Lanka, raved about Abhinav’s attitude.
His father, T.S. Mukund, a competent middle-order batsman in his time, was in the State squad. Abhinav learnt his cricket at St. Bede’s and is presently studying first year B. Com in the Vivekananda College.
The new kid on the block does not waste time. Paradoxically, he is here to stay.
S. DINAKAR
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
