Padding up for a New Innings

After years in the wilderness, Abhinav Mukund (in pic) has MADE A COMEBACK to the Indian Test team. Speaking to S. DINAKAR, the Tamil Nadu opening batsman says, “I thought all my chances of playing for India were gone. There wasn’t anything to look forward to, and I thought of giving up the game.”

- S. Dinakar

The cricketing journey of Abhinav Mukund has been an emotional roller coaster ride. He has been in darkness one day, and in sunshine another day. His resolve has been tested and his commitment to the game stretched.

The left-hander made his Test debut for India against the West Indies in Jamaica in 2011. He immediately made an impression with his compact, tight game, and that precious ability to play in the ‘V’. He was up against a fast and probing West Indian pair of Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, but displayed the temperament to play at the highest level.

ABHINAV WAS UNRUFFLED by the speed and bounce, and the pressures of the occasion. He got behind the line, displayed a willingness to stay at the wicket.

The same year he toured England for a Test series. Rather unfairly, he found himself out of the team after the first two Tests.

That was a long time ago. In the years that followed, Abhinav went through a whole range of feeling and doubts crept in. In fact, he almost quit cricket four years ago. Something snapped within and belief gave way to despair. Pushed to the brink, he pondered a different career.

THE TAMIL NADU OPENER THEN, following a conversation with a close friend, saw a sliver of hope and his resilience came to the fore again. From the wilderness, Abhinav is back in the limelight. It has been quite a ride for him. And he is only 27.

“I made my first class debut in 2007 when I was 17. I have been around for a long time — 10 years — and people think I am older than what I am,” Abhinav laughed.