Mayank Aggarwal- The New Star Of Indian Cricket

Sportstar caught up with the new star of Indian cricket, Mayank Agarwal, who is back to the domestic grind after an impressive debut in Australia as an opener.

- Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya

"Main gaadi doosre side mein laga doon “(can I park my car on the other side)?” Mayank Agarwal asks a security guard on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium premises in Bengaluru. The gentleman nods in surprise. Local boy Mayank is now an international cricketer, and the man in uniform didn’t see the humility coming.

He is back in the city to play the Ranji Trophy semifinal match for Karnataka.

At the KSCA canteen by the pitch, we greeted Mayank with the latest issue of Sportstar.

Looking at Prithvi Shaw on cover, he says, “Aah! Prithvi. Well done, brother.” Soon, the photoline page — comprising snaps from India’s historic series win in Australia — catches his eye. The right-hander made his Test debut Down Under in December last and left a mark as an opener.

Pointing to the snap that had Team India on the podium with the trophy, he says, “This is the moment that will be forever etched in my head.”

How much has life changed after the international debut and the series win in Australia?

Honestly, nothing much has changed. It’s just that I have got the experience and confidence of playing at the international level.

You used to travel a lot within Bengaluru for cricket training. How do you look back on that period now that you have played for India?

I still do. I would leave home at around 5.30 in the morning. I like to get up early and train. I would start my training by 6 a.m. From Electronic City, I would go to my training place and then come to KSCA to train with the Ranji side. After finishing these, I would go to RX Murali’s Academy in Marathahalli [around 15km away] and then take the Outer Ring road to return by 6 p.m.

That’s 12 hours of work…