MSK Prasad : Mayank Agarwal has now definitely got himself in the mix for national team

Mayank Agarwal has established himself as a colossus in the ongoing domestic season of 2017-18. The consistent Karnataka opener recently became the first batsman to break the 2000-run mark in Indian domestic cricket when he took his season’s tally to 2141 runs across all competitions.

But despite all this, Agarwal, who ticked all boxes of the selection committee still failed to find a spot in the 15-man squad to play the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka that the BCCI assembled under the guidance of Chief selector MSK Prasad.

“No player should be confused about where he stands. Our committee speaks to every player — even those who are to selected and try to give them a fair picture. Accordingly, I spoke to Mayank and told him that with his brilliant performances in domestic cricket, he has now definitely got himself in the mix (national team reckoning). I told him that he is now in the queue,” said Prasad in a chat with PTI.

Agarwal also managed to top the charts in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy where he came out on top with a run tally of 723 runs at a superb average of 90.37 over the course of 8 matches as helped his state of Karnataka lift the trophy. Srikar Bharat who ended the tournament as the second-highest run scorer managed to only get to 390 runs at an average of 55.71, almost half of Agarwal’s.

“We have followed a pattern in our selection process. Each and every national contender is in the queue and we don’t believe that anyone can jump the queue. Mayank is a wonderful kid and he completely understood what I explained to him. He told me ‘Sir, you are spot on and ‘I am not in a hurry at all’,” added Prasad.