Ranji Trophy 2019-20 | Mayank Agarwal’s absence paves way for youngsters to grab chance, asserts Karun Nair

The India A team will be travelling to New Zealand on 10 January, with Test regulars Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mayank Agarwal all set to partake in the tour, which is seen as a preparation for India's subsequent tour of New Zealand.

Owing to India A duty, Karnataka opener Mayank Agarwal will miss the team's Ranji Trophy clash versus Mumbai, and talking about Mayank’s absence from the next game, skipper Karun Nair stated that the opener's absence will present an opportunity to someone new to make a mark.

"Mayank is big player, but it (his absence) opens an opportunity for someone else to come and grab their chance," said Nair, reported Times of India.

In his nine-Test international career so far, Mayank has already scored two double hundreds and Nair, who has watched the India Test opener from close quarters since his initial cricketing days, on Thursday, paid glowing tribute to his good friend.

"I think, Mayank has always been a hard-working cricketer, so I think it was high time that the hard-work paid off. It is just to do with his hard-work that he (Agarwal) is doing well now and I don't think he has changed much at all," Nair said.

Nair himself has a triple hundred to his name for India but he last played a Test way back in March 2017 against Australia in Dharamshala. When asked about his aspirations to be back in India colours, without thinking about too far ahead, Nair revealed that he currently is just focused on the performance of his state team in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

"For me it is about playing each game at a time and trying to contribute as much as I can to Karnataka and try to win games for Karnataka. And that is what I am trying to do this season and looking forward to try and contribute more with the bat and as captain, so that we can go on and win games and all of us are looking to win the Ranji Trophy, so that's our ultimate goal."