Former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid was there for Mayank Agarwal when he was waiting for a call from the national side. The veteran’s word motivated and kept him going. And, finally, he broke into the scene in 2018 against Australia. He went on to become the highest scorer for India in Test cricket last year.
Mayank got the chance in the highly-rated Test series against Australia in 2018. He scored 195 runs and contributed to India’s maiden Test series win on Australian soil.
But before achieving the height, the 29-year-old was facing tough times because he waited for too long to make the debut. He shared his problem with Dravid whose golden words inspired him to work hard and do his job.
“I was getting runs you know. I got massive runs that Ranji Trophy season and for India A. I did have a word with Rahul bhai. I told him I was getting thoughts of sometimes not getting picked,” Agarwal told Sanjay Manjrekar in a videocast on ESPNcricinfo.
“I very clearly remember him telling me ‘Mayank these are the things that are in your hands. You have worked hard, you have gotten here. You are as close as you can get. Selection is not in your hands. And I totally agreed with him. Theoretically you understand that but practically it’s not easy.
Mayank Agarwal thanked Rahul Dravid after his debut call:
“But he put forth few things – ‘What is to say that the coming October and November is not going to be different from September. If you think otherwise you will get into a negative mind frame it’s you who is going to lose out and nobody else’. So I remembered that talk and that kept me going,” Mayank added.
“When I got the call I was elated and I called him up and thanked him.”
Now, Mayank Agarwal has become a regular feature in India’s Test squad. So far, he has played 11 Test matches and scored 974 runs at an average of 57.29. He has also struck two double tons and a century in his progressing career. The right-hand batsman also got the opportunities in the ODI series against New Zealand after Rohit Sharma got injured.