‘Looking to play under Ashwin’

Diganta.Guha@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: He is known for his style statement, looks (often termed as Virat Kohli lookalike), being Virender Sehwag’s nephew, athletic fielding and stingy left-arm spin bowling. Himachal Pradesh all-rounder Mayank Dagar, who has been signed by the

Kings XI Punjab

for the upcoming IPL season, hopes to leave his imprint if given a chance to play. The 21-year-old also wishes to hone his spin-bowling skills under team captain Ravichandran Ashwin.

TOI caught up with Dagar on the sidelines of the first-ever sports literature festival ‘Play write’. He spoke on a wide-range of topics, including Kings XI’s prospects this season, Rahul Dravid’s impact on his game, dreams of donning the national team jersey, and not to forget his “dashing looks”.

Excerpts:

On his IPL preparations

Well, the preparations have been sound so far. I have been playing a lot of T20 tournaments. Recently, I went to Goa for a corporate tournament. I am training smartly working on my bowling, batting and fielding. Since its T20 cricket, you have to cover all the areas. Honestly speaking, the preparations in other words are in full swing. I am looking forward to this season.

Playing under R Ashwin

To start off, it’s a great opportunity for me to work for Kings XI Punjab. Obviously they have believed in me and it’s my turn to live up to their expectations. So far as Ashwin goes, there is no doubt he is a great player and more importantly a superb human being. There will be a lot to learn from him.

Kings XI’s prospects in upcoming IPL

We have a great team and for a youngster like me, it will be a learning process. There are senior players in the team whom I have always looked upto and I hope to make the maximum of this opportunity. The T20 format is always a challenge and hopefully, I would be able to make an impact provided I get a chance.

Training pattern required for T20

The training pattern differs according to the format you are in. IPL is T20 cricket, so you need to keep things straight. I am a spinner and hence it is important for me to know my areas. Practising with a single wicket is a boon. What is challenging about T20 is that you don’t have enough time in hand. You need to understand the situation and play accordingly. It’s not just about getting into the nets. It is important that you have purposeful practice sessions.

Rahul Dravid’s influence

It was a blessing to have him as the coach of the India Under-19 side. The 10-11 months that I worked under him were a huge experience for me. He taught us how we should handle situations both on and off the field. It’s all about how you behave on the ground. He is not a man who would be strict with you. He underlines the importance of hard work and team work. After all, it’s all about being a team man. He has always inspired us to give our best.

Being Sehwag’s nephew

It is a blessing, beyond doubt. It would be a great opportunity to train under his watchful eyes. So far as his approach towards the game is concerned, singing while batting was a trigger for him. That helped him keep himself calm. But we are two different individuals, it may not work for me.

Comparisons with Virat Kohli (on the looks front)

Well, I hope I am compared to him on the cricket front one day. But of course, it feels good to look good. There’s nothing bad about it.

Kohli’s effect on him

He is an inspiration. Look at the way he has lifted the fitness standards not only in India but all over the world. His love for the game is unparalleled.

Evolution of junior cricket

It is always a challenge to face competition. For me, it’s been good so far, and I am happy with my preparations. The transition from the U-19 level to the bigger stages is always a challenging phase. I do not contemplate much and just stick to my basics. It is important to analyse your game and work on the areas that need improvements. That is my way of looking at my game.

India dreams?

It is every cricketer’s dream to play for the country. For the last two years, I have been working really hard in the domestic circuit. It is all about getting an opportunity and making the most of it. You never know when opportunities would knock on your doors.