Shivam Mavi reveals Rahul Dravid’s words that helped him in his recovery

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 the doors of the national team for the youngster.

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

One of those new faces is Shivam Mavi, and the youngster expressed what this call-up 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 about the day he got selected, 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 the magic words were that the Indian coach told him. He revealed, “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.”