“I have always been quite mentally strong”, Shivam Mavi opens up on his struggle of bagging a spot in the Indian team

Shivam Mavi has been quite a force in the hallowed ranks of IPL despite a roller-coaster start with the downs being a lot more frequent than the ups. However, his latest stint combined with a string of impressive displays in the domestic arcade forced the Indian selectors to open up the doors of the national team for the youngster.

As India prepares to take on the Lankans, they will have to brave a major challenge in injuries as Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma are still to recover fully from injuries while India’s T20I squad for the Lankans will stay witness to several new faces.

Many many congratulations to @ShivamMavi23 Ji. #indiancricket #shivammavi pic.twitter.com/gIK6jBw1Et

— Devendra Singh (@DevendraNoida) December 29, 2022

Here is what Shivam Mavi had to say about being called up for India

One of them being Shivam Mavi, the youngster expressed what this call-up for him means to him and why this can be a game-changer for the rebellious quick who is raring to defy the norms of fast bowling as he eyes for a further rise through the international ranks.

Talking to ESPNCricinfo, Mavi said, “When we play domestic games, we normally hit the bed early to get proper rest. But that day, because I heard the team was about to be announced, I was sitting in Saurabh [left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar] bhaiyya‘s room with Samarth [Singh]. As soon as I learnt of my selection, for a split second, everything came to a standstill. It was an amazing feeling. I was emotional, but I knew my time had come.”

He further added, “I have always been quite mentally strong. What I have learnt all the while is that injuries are part and parcel of the game. It is easy to be positive when things are going your way, but it is more important to stay positive when you are injured. That’s all I ever reminded myself of.”

Mavi also highlighted how Rahul Dravid helped him to return from his second injury and what were the magic words that the Indian coach told him. He said, “When I got injured the second time, I was at the NCA and Rahul [Dravid] sir was also there. I was under pressure because of my repeated injuries. That’s when I sought him out and asked for his advice. He asked me to just keep my entire focus on the field of play. Injuries will come and go, but it is important to stay prepared for all opportunities that come your way.”