Aggressive Ayush Mhatre hopes leadership will help his game blossom

CHENNAI: Ayush Mhatre has had a dream run in recent months. The 18-year-old was brought in as an injury replacement for Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and made an immediate impact for the franchise in the IPL. While CSK had a season to forget, Mhatre was one of the few bright spots. Shortly after the IPL, Mhatre was appointed the captain of the India U-19 team for the tour of England, where the visitors went on to win the ODI series. He was later chosen to lead the Mumbai team in the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai, ahead of senior players like Sarfaraz Khan and Hardik Tamore. “I am glad to captain the Mumbai team at such a young age. It is a very special thing,” Mhatre said after a training session here on Sunday. While Mhatre had a fruitful stint with CSK, he also made the most of his time by learning the nuances of captaincy from legend MS Dhoni. “I am very lucky to play with Mahi bhai and share the dressing room with so many great players. I have learnt from Mahi bhai that, in any situation, I have to stay calm and take decisions. He is not aggressive on the field and takes very smart decisions. I try to apply those on the field. “Responsibility has improved my game, and my involvement on the field has also improved. As a captain, you need to stay alert in every situation,” he added. What sets Mhatre apart is his aggressive batting, and he showed that during the recent England assignment. The opening batter was the top scorer in the two-match youth Test series, recording 340 runs at a strike-rate of 103.65. In the IPL, he aggregated 240 runs in seven innings, scoring at 188.97. “Every batter has his own strengths, and mine is playing aggressive cricket. When the ball comes in my range, I go for the shot.” In his maiden IPL season, Mhatre showcased his potential. “It was a great experience playing for CSK. They supported me and gave me a chance at a young age. Techniquewise, I have not changed anything, but my confidence has really improved. So, I am feeling very positive going into the season,” Mhatre said