I'm hungry to play for India again: Abhinav Mukund

Tamil Nadu batting mainstay Abhinav Mukund has expressed his desire to represent The national team once again. Mukund, who is leading Tamil Nadu in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, been one of the consistent performers in the domestic circuit having made 8010 first-class runs. But, unfortunately, the 26-year-old hasn’t been able to stake his claim for the national side ever since playing his last test in 2011 against England.

His fine form for the Tamil Nadu, where he averaged over 60 in four fist class seasons, Mukund made his Test debut against West Indies in June 2011. Mukund, who walked in the team with a reputation for hitting big score could manage only 14 runs in 5 Tests before losing his place. During an exclusive interview with Times of India, Abhinav opened about his performances over the years and his views on making a comeback into the national team. With injuries to some of the key Indian openers, Mukund said that he was hoping for a comeback into the national side ahead of the five-match Test series against England which is scheduled to start next month.

“I have been batting well and have started the season on a high. I’m always looking to make a comeback. It’s been five years since I last played for India and I’m hungry to play again,” he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Abhinav felt that his recent performances in the Ranji matches have earned him the selectors’ attention. He said, “I think the national selectors have me on the radar. MSK Prasad, Chairman of the Selection Committee, watched me score a hundred against Uttar Pradesh in Dharamsala. Though I didn’t have a chat with him, I suppose he would have taken something out of it.”

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Abhinav has scored 569 runs in nine innings in the first-class season so far with three tons and two fifties. He felt that it was unfair of people to rate him as a one-dimensional cricketer who has magic touch only in the longer format of the game.

“A lot of people have done that and have ruled me out of T20s as well. I’m not trying to prove anybody wrong. I have been successful in all the formats and have been consistent. If someone is being branded, then you can’t help it. But at the end of the day, when you keep scoring runs nobody can stop you. It’s important to take things in a positive way and move forward,” he said on the matter.

Abhinav also pitched in with his support to the IPL. He said that it was the best platform at present for any first-class cricketer to rub shoulders with international stars. He said, “Yes, it will definitely help a player be in the scheme of things. I miss being part of the IPL. When I was with the IPL teams earlier, I wasn’t that good. But I think, I’m a much-improved T20 player now. I did well in the TNPL and I feel, I can play IPL.”