Fielding has a positive effect on Abhinav

Abhinav Mukund had dropped a sitter to reprieve Steve Smith on 37 in the Pune Test early this year. The Aussie captain went on to score a hundred that played a big role in visitors’ win over India in the four-Test series, which Virat Kohli’s men eventually won 2-1.

The dropped catch at short-leg, however, haunted the Tamil Nadu player for a long time and his redemption may have come on Thursday when he pulled off a one-handed diving catch at silly point to send back Niroshan Dickwella after running out Upul Tharanga just a few overs before.

“Definitely, I think the catch and the run-out did give me a lot of confidence,” said Abhinav when asked if that show sort of gave him the confidence to bat well in the second innings. “I have worked really hard in the off season. I wanted to improve on my close-in fielding and also my batting. I have put in the hard yards. I was quite disappointed it didn’t come off on the first day, but then again it happens. How much ever you work hard, sometimes you just get out. It’s fine, I came back stronger the next day. I have had a decent day but I am disappointed to get out on 80.” 

The opener further spoke on his disappointment of dropping Smith and the subsequent efforts he put in to improve his fielding skills. 

“I was quite disappointed after the Pune Test because I dropped a sitter off Steve Smith,” he began. “It is one of those catches that goes past you. I wanted to do well because I wanted to be a specialist somewhere. In the Indian team, it is very important that you be a specialist fielder somewhere. I have worked a lot with (fielding coach) R Sridhar. He has been a great asset for me. Also, the fitness aspect as well. It is important that you are fit to stand under the helmet for 70-80 overs, so a lot of credit to (trainer) Mr Basu,” he explained.