CHENNAI:
Abhinav Mukund marked his 100th
Ranji Trophy game with a swift century that put Tamil Nadu in complete control against
Railways
on the opening day at Chepauk here on Sunday. On a pitch where Railways managed only 76 in their first innings, Abhinav looked at ease from the start.
The southpaw was decisive in his footwork and made full use of any loose deliveries that were on offer to reach his 30th first-class hundred. Despite being on song through the course of his innings, Abhinav revealed that it was a tricky wicket to bat on.
“You can’t trust your defence too much on this wicket and I went in with a positive intent. I wanted to ensure that the bowlers never got into their rhythm,” Abhinav told TOI.
Abhinav, who was dismissed exactly for 100, fell 34 short of crossing the 10,000-run mark in first-class cricket. “I might sound callous, but I have never played for records. It’s satisfying to get a century in my 100th Ranji game but it will have more meaning if we go on to win this game,” Abhinav told TOI.
With shots on all parts of the ground, Railways’ bowlers could do little to stem the run flow from Abhinav’s willow. “Whatever I touched today went to the boundary. I haven’t got a hundred in a session ever. On a lighter note, I can say that it took me 100 games to get there,” he said.
The 30-year-old’s 115-ball effort was cut short when he was caught at slip by Mrunal Devdhar off the bowling of offie
Shivendra Singh, but he had done the job for his side by then as they are sitting pretty with a a 160-run lead at the moment. “They didn’t have any idea as to where to bowl to me. I felt I was completely on top but unfortunately got a ball that bounced more than I thought it would and was caught at slip,” said Abhinav.
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