ഇന്ത്യ-എ ടീമിലെ മോശം പ്രകടനത്തിന് ശേഷം വിവിഎസ് ലക്ഷ്മണിന്റെ ഉപദേശവുമായി ആയുഷ് പാണ്ഡെ. വലിയ സ്കോറുകൾക്ക് പിന്നാലെ പോകാതെ പ്രക്രിയയിൽ ശ്രദ്ധ കേന്ദ്രീകരിക്കാനാണ് ലക്ഷ്മൺ നൽകിയ നിർദ്ദേശം. ഛത്തീസ്ഗഡിനായി രഞ്ജി ട്രോഫിയിൽ മികച്ച പ്രകടനം കാഴ്ചവെച്ച ഈ ഇരുപത്തിമൂന്നുകാരൻ, ലക്ഷ്മണിന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ തനിക്ക് വലിയ ആത്മവിശ്വാസം നൽകിയെന്ന് വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു.
Ayush Pandey was on the cusp of a statement innings on the final day of the second unofficial Test between India-A and Australia-A in Puducherry.
Opening for India-A as it chased an improbable 365 runs, Ayush had survived the awkward spell of overs before stumps on day three. The next morning, he was tentative on occasions but did just about enough to hang around against the seam movement and uneven bounce extracted by Jhye Richardson.
Then came a wretched short-pitched delivery from Liam Scott, that invited Ayush to play the pull but scooted under his bat and trapped him in front. The promise of a marathon innings to bail the team out fell flat and culminated on a 80-ball 19.
It was an all-too-familiar end for Ayush, who had debuted for India-A in Sri Lanka earlier this year. In the only game he played, he set himself in both innings and still fell short of a big score. The occasion and the chances gone begging might have marooned any young batter on the what-ifs.
But V.V.S. Laxman, who is the Centre of Excellence head but was the India-A coach on tour, stepped in with timely intervention after his debut and Ayush wants to carry the advice as he sets off on a new domestic calendar.
READ | Built to wait, ready to rise: The Yash Rathod story
"It was a good experience. I got to learn a lot. I got to share a good environment with Test players. I talked to him [Laxman] about what to do, what game plan [to follow], about what mindset should be there," Ayush says about his India-A tour.
"Laxman sir said that my batting was going well. He said that missing chances can happen at times, it is a part of the game. He said, 'You don't have to worry too much about it. Don't run after the milestones. Just follow your process. And the milestone will take care of itself'."
Ayush, though, already knows a thing or two about milestones. The 23-year-old southpaw has burst onto the India-A fold after piling up 1,317 runs for Chhattisgarh over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. What stands out in his record is that Ayush has produced his best against the more established outfits in the Ranji Trophy. His highest First-Class score, 211, came against Assam, but he also has hundreds against Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
He's the first from Chhattisgarh to make the cut for India-A, but these four innings were a reminder that just breaking into the top tier will not be enough. Retaining the place is going to be a new fight.
"I feel like it's a decent start but I have to keep working and getting better. I can probably be more consistent, across all three formats. I don't think about big or small teams. I am used to taking every match as the same. I am just following the process. I don't focus much on the result either. Understand the pitch you are playing on, keep a strong mindset, know the bowling attack you are facing, and you are ready to face anyone," Ayush says.
Shashikant Pandey, Ayush's father, also believes his son is turning over a new leaf. He has a full-time job as a regional distribution manager at a pharmaceutical company in Raipur, but keeping track of his son's performances takes up most of his time now.
"I think he is more confident today as a batter after training under Laxman sir and Hrishikesh sir. I think he believes in himself more now," Shashikant tells Sportstar from his home in Raipur.
"I noted down what mistakes he made in this innings, but it was more a lapse in judgement. It's just a matter of confidence. If he gets two or three games in a stretch, then the performance will be better. Any new player goes into the team, they're nervous on the first day, it's natural," he adds.
India-A has another three games coming up against New Zealand-A and Ayush is among the slew of names that the management wants to expose through these shadow tours.
"I always believe it is okay to make mistakes but they have to learn something from those. There is always the demand to perform as well, so you have to match both these things. But this is a good bunch, Ayush, Yash Rathod and Shaik Rasheed, and, in time, they will graduate to the next level. We expect a lot from them and these guys are still growing, so it is important to let them grow. Take these games close to the heart so that they'll help," India-A head coach Lakshmipathy Balaji had said after the first game against Australia-A.
Ayush will be featuring in the upcoming Ranji Trophy games for Chhattisgarh. With a strong start, he might find himself packing a suitcase for another India-A trip.