Mumbai: India opener Mayank Agarwal on Friday said that it was head coach Rahul Dravid who told him to 'make it big', while referring to his fighting knock of 120 not out against New Zealand here at the Wankhede stadium.
The 30-year-old held one end and anchored India to 221/4 after New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel rattled the top-order of the hosts on day one of the second Test.
While Mayank is aware that once Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul return to the Test squad he might have to make way for them, he is still trying to make it count.
"When I was picked, Rahul bhai spoke to me. He asked me to control what's in my hands and said, 'go out there and give it your best'. He'd told me 'When you get set, make it big'. I'm happy to have capitalised on the start that I'd. But that message was very clear from Rahul bhai, that I should make it count," Mayank said in a virtual press conference.
The Bangalore born heaped praises on Ajaz, saying that he bowled "exceedingly well".
He, however, made it a point and highlighted that whenever the left-arm spinner bowled in his length he didn't shy from attacking. The India opener hit four maximums to Ajaz.
"He was bowling exceedingly well. But each time anything was in our half, the plan was to be a bit more attacking. Anything that came a little towards us in length, we were going to go for it. He'd that phase when he tied us down, so it was a conscious decision to make it count when we could or each time he bowled it in our spot," he said.
Taking about his knock, Mayank said it was more about "grit and determination" and that he just stuck to the plan to stay disciplined.
"That is something I have thought about, but this innings was more about grit and determination, just to stick with the plan, be disciplined. I know I didn't look good sometimes but I got the job done."
He also noted that the first session on day two will be crucial for India as the wicket will get harder to bat on.
"How we start is crucial, the focus is that. The first session we want to play it out, the wicket is going to get harder and harder to bat on," he said.
Mayank returned to the red-ball cricket after missing the five-match Test series against England earlier this year. He was hit on his head during a net session in the European country which forced him to stay on the sidelines.
"It was unfortunate for me to not have played in England, I got hit and there's nothing much I could do about that. I accepted it and continued to work hard and work on my process and my game," he said while talking about the overseas series. (UNI)