Mukund prefers to live in present

Galle, July 28: It took him six years to make a comeback to the Indian Test team and his spot as an opener is still not guaranteed but Abhinav Mukund would prefer to live in the present and contribute in team's cause rather than thinking about past or future.

With his 81-run knock, Mukund on Friday scored only his second Test halfcentury after his previous best effort of 62 against the West Indies in Dominica back in 2011.

Mukund has been a part of the Indian team since the Australia series early this year but given Shikhar Dhawan’s 190 runs in the first innings and a possible comeback of Murali Vijay or K.L. Rahul, his place in the team will be under the scanner.

“I have the opportunity to do something in this Test. I don’t want to think ahead to the next Test. Being the first choice opener or second choice opener doesn’t make a difference. When you get a chance in the middle, I want to capitalise on it. That’s what I thought,” said Mukund.

“There was a point of time — I am very honest about it — that I was not raring to even put on whites. I wasn’t part of any team — I wasn’t part of any first-class team. There was a time when I was dropped from my own state team. To have this opportunity to be part of the Indian team is such a huge bonus. I take every game as an opportunity, that’s all. If I am part of the team, not part of the team, again, I will try to do my best wherever I am,” said Mukund.

The TN opener said his team mates have been very supportive since his comeback.