Ranji Trophy 2019-20 | Domestic cricket challenges you in different ways, reveals Mayank Agarwal
India international Mayank Agarwal is of the opinion that even after one has played international cricket when you come back and play in the domestic setup, it’s pretty challenging. Starting from at a debut in Australia to an incredibly successful home season, Agarwal’s year has been quite a jump.
The Karnataka batsman has enjoyed a great run of form right since his debut against Australia last year in the Boxing Day Test, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Since then he has represented India in nine Test matches and has accumulated 872 runs at 67.07 average in the span. The opening batsman, uncapped in ODIs, also got a World Cup call up ahead of Amabati Rayudu.
Agarwal spoke about his international career which he feels is ‘unreal’ and ‘like a dream’.
“Definitely didn't believe any of this. It's unreal. Now it just feels like I'm in a dream. It feels terrific to have all of this and I'm very grateful for whatever has happened. There was a debut at MCG, then a World Cup call-up and some other things,” Agarwal was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“Never felt anything like that[playing down under]. Getting picked for the World Cup was also a very different feeling, a very nice feeling. And India being on top of the World Test Championship right now and the kind of cricket we're playing - it's also a very great feeling to be part of such a set-up.”
But the years that went into this transformation the 28-year-old has been a huge curve. As India had a rare disappointing run in the Under-19 World Cup in 2010, Agarwal had top-scored for his team in the tournament. It was in the 2013-14 season that Agarwal made his Ranji Trophy debut for Karnataka. And in the following season, as he was in the contention to be the opener for Karnataka, he was benched halfway through the season.
But he didn’t give up and believes in continuing to learn and grow each day.
“Having experiences like these has changed me as a person. I have a lot more confidence now and I'm a lot more sure. [So I have evolved] On those aspects and [I am] also able to understand what are the things a person requires to keep continuing to grow,” he asserted.
Now that Team India is involved in a limited-overs contest with the West Indies at home, Agarwal will likely get to spend an entire group stage with his domestic team. And Agarwal, who got to play only two games for Karnataka in the previous season, is looking forward to the challenges that the domestic cricket at home has to offer. There’s always this want to play more in the cricketer and his teammates that drives them to do better every season.
“Really looking forward to playing Ranji Trophy. It is this tournament - and having scored runs in this tournament - that got me going up. So, obviously it is big. And domestic cricket in India is very valuable. You could've played international cricket, but when you come back and play domestic cricket in India, it challenges you. And challenges you in different ways,” shared Agarwal.
“With that said, Karnataka having won the two tournaments [Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] that we've played this year, we're still hungry; we're not satisfied. We want to play more and I want to try and see what are the best possible ways I can contribute to that.”