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A challenging period awaits Abhinav

S. Dinakar

— Photo: N. Sridharan

Abhinav Mukund.

Chennai: Abhinav Mukund remembers the words from Dinesh Karthik. The Tamil Nadu skipper walked up to the opener during lunch break on the second day and then said, “You have 12 overs to reach 300. Then, we will declare.”

Mukund was on 247 against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy Super League match at Nasik. While he was on top of the bowling, the innings was proving to be physically draining. Mentally too, he had never been in this territory before.

“I was feeling a little dizzy and exhausted. Mentally, it was hugely demanding but I eventually made it,” said Abhinav.

Team spirit

The left-hander remained unbeaten on 300. And Abhinav’s opening partnership with M. Vijay was worth 462. “I was very happy that the team enjoyed our success. There is great spirit within the side,” he said.

“The difference between last year and this season is that I am getting the big hundreds,” Abhinav told The Hindu. He has another sizable three-figure innings this season — a knock of 150 against Andhra at Vijayawada.

He is only 18, but averages 68.61 in 10 first class matches, scoring 892 runs and four hundreds. These numbers reflect his temperament as much as his talent.

The left-hander is keen to bat the right way against the new ball — playing close to the body, stroking in the ‘V’ and judging when to ‘play’ and ‘leave.’

Abhinav has also grown taller over the last 10 months. This, he believes, has improved his reach and front-footed play. Once he settles down, the young man can also inflict damage with horizontal bat strokes.

Chemistry with Vijay

The opener enjoys his chemistry with partner M. Vijay. This left-right pair is a buzzing one. “He’s hungry for runs and it rubs on you as well. We constantly talk to each other, complement each other, run between the wickets well,” said Abhinav.

He calls Karthik “a vibrant captain with lots of ideas.” Abhinav says coach W.V. Raman can detect the slightest of flaws. “As a team we are backing each other and playing to win this season,” he says.

Tamil Nadu presently leads Group ‘B’ in the Ranji Trophy Super League with 15 points from four matches.

Abhinav says his time in the Chennai Super Kings squad during the IPL opened his eyes to the latest training methods.

The second-year Vivekananda College student is a great admirer of the left-handed Matthew Hayden. “His professionalism is amazing. Hayden is the first to arrive for practice and the last to leave,” said Abhinav.

A challenging period awaits this promising opener.

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