Mukund shows courage under fire

BRIDGETOWN: Abhinav Mukund acknowledged that he had a rough initiation into the international arena, but he has relished the challenge of opening the batting for India in the first two Tests against West Indies.

Mukund had easily his best score in three innings in the series on Friday.

He produced a gutsy 48, and shared a vital 63 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid which put India on the road to 229 for three in their second innings at the close on the fourth day of the second Test for an overall lead of 240.

The 21-year-old from Chennai found out how tough things really can be, when Fidel Edwards struck him on his helmet with a bouncer.

"Any human being will tell you (it hurts)," he said.

"When you are hit, your body tells you are at war; it's a state of shock. But I wanted to convince myself I could face Test bowling."

Mukund admitted he had been overcome with nerves ahead of the first Test in Jamaica, knowing he would make his debut.

"I didn't sleep much on the night before the first Test. My body clock wasn't set either.

"I remember the first over I played in Test cricket. I was nervous, but I didn't try to do anything about it."

Mukund said a drive off Edwards in the second innings of the first Test gave him a lot of confidence, and made him recognise that he could find a place in the side.

But he conceded it was not easy for him and fellow opener Murali Vijay to come to grips with the lively pitches they have been served up in the Caribbean.

"I told (Murali Vijay) that I would take the first strike," he said.

"I have always taken the first strike, even at Ranji Trophy level. It isn't as if he didn't want to face first.

"But we (the two openers) didn't have enough time to adjust the conditions. We landed here just three days before (the first Test).

"It's been tough. I can be honest about it. The bounce is really steep. But I feel it's good for me that I have played in tough conditions."

Mukund hailed the congenial atmosphere in the Indian dressing room, and noted that having batted with most of the Indian top order before in domestic matches had helped him to feel settled..

"I am fortunate that I have played with all the first five batters previously," he said.

"It is a really comfortable atmosphere in the dressing room.

"But having batted with Dravid, you learn a lot. He is gutsy. He keeps talking to himself in the centre. He kept telling me watch the ball, watch the ball."

The left-handed opener said he got a bit of inspiration for his second innings knock from two of the West Indies' batsmen.

"Sitting at forward short leg and watching (Marlon) Samuels and (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul bat, I took a leaf (out of their book)," he said.

"The two were playing too late; Chanderpaul was leaving a lot of balls which were close (to the off stump) also. I too wanted to play as late and leave as many as possible."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011