CHENNAI: Ask Google what the meaning of instinct is, and this is what the search engine regurgitates: an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in response to certain stimuli.
Now, consider the case where the aforementioned sequence of responses is: a) always aggressive in nature, and b) keeps culminating in detrimental consequences. What does one do to curb something that is intrinsic?
From a batsman’s perspective, Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal has the answer: patience coupled with a truckload of hard work.That the 25-year-old opener has potential is not really a dispute-worthy topic, especially when taking into consideration the loaded cricketing CV that he has been flaunting ever since he held a bat in professional capacity. Head-turning outings during his Cooch Behar Trophy days (2008-09) and the top-scorer tag for the nation during the 2010 U-19 World Cup are a few bullet points that definitely stand out from his early days.
It was when India A and IPL made their way into his career’s venn diagram that Mayank’s aggressive instinct turned on him. With the Royal Challengers Bangalore (from 2011-13), he tallied only 433 runs from 24 innings at an average of 18.82. His outings with the Delhi Daredevils too were equally muted: 355 runs from 21 innings at an average of 17.75. This, coupled with lacklustre performances at the first-class level during the same period, snowballed into Mayank being pigeonholed into the ‘three huge hits and then throws wicket away’ batting stereotype. That, and a benching during the half-way mark of the 2014-15 Ranji season.
Cut to 2016. Mayank, in the time that has passed, has blinkered his world into two primary spheres: fitness and bettering his shot selection. A maiden Ranji ton (2015-16) has also been achieved; a fleeting glimpse of the results from the Bengaluru native’s efforts. But, it is during the Duleep Trophy in September that his efforts are truly reified.
92, 161, 58, 57, 52. Those are his scores for India Blue. Not to mention Mayank’s breach of the 1,000-run mark in the Karnataka Premier League during the same month. The hundred in Duleep Trophy was the first among the eight fifty-plus scores in 32 innings that he added an extra digit to. The ‘slam bang’ label was sequestered, as a result. A sweet fruition of toil indeed, especially when it comes in the form of indelible statistics.
“He has evolved really well as a cricketer. He’s a good student of the game,” observed Karnataka coach J Arun Kumar after his team’s 19-run win against Kerala on Monday at the Gurunanak College ground.
In the match, Mayank had notched up a 47-ball 61 consisting of five fours, three sixes, and 29 singles. The last number is yet another small nod to his new-found patience and industry with the willow.
“He knew he had to develop patience and play spinners better. He’s worked really hard on those two aspects, and has also tightened up his defence. Like today, he’s focussing on taking more singles and twos; something that he has been practicing during league matches. Off-season work always pays off, and it will definitely help you peak when you’re out in the field.” rahulravi@newindianexpress.com