Utkarsh Srivastava: I think I needed to earn the respect of everyone

'Jigra Dikhaya' (showed a lot of heart) remarked captain Monank Patel after Utkarsh Srivastava's outstanding innings of 67 off 62 on ODI debut at the tender age of 17. Cutting a diminutive figure on the field, Srivastava faced a tall order of chasing 218 runs off 190 deliveries after being sent in at the fall of the fourth wicket. His grit kept USA in the hunt in the daunting ask of 318 but you could almost sense the undertones in Monank's remark.

Srivastava has had a rather stormy introduction to international cricket. His selection had tongues wagging after several high profile names were overlooked in the pecking order. He walked into a fractious dressing room that had a few senior players and the head coach at loggerheads. Apart from a couple of filler T20I appearances, he warmed the bench for 19 white-ball games spread over three tours. Srivastava's valiant little innings was a stamp on his character and mental fortitude more than his skill which undoubtedly transcends his age.

He crossed the landmark in fine fashion, a swivelling pull shot with a hint of Caribbean flair that would've made his childhood coach and all time West Indian great Alvin Kallicharan proud of. The landmark sparked off exulted celebration from Srivastava where he was seen fist pumping his bat in a moment of self vindication.

"I wasn't expecting that ball to go for six, I was just trying to place it between fine leg and square leg. But I think I timed it so well that it actually went. So I was just really hyped, because for three tours I haven't got a chance. And then, for the first time, I got a chance, and I proved myself. So that's why I did an aggressive bat celebration where I just felt like it needed to be done. Because I was very eagerly waiting for that moment, and it finally happened. I was just very thankful that it happened" said Srivastava to Cricbuzz.

Life has been racing in overdrive since January for the Pune born Srivastava. He was picked for the U19 World Cup at the start of the year. He left an impression in the game against India with a plucky knock of 40. Unlike most of his peers, he looked at relative ease countering a quality attack that he wasn't exposed to hitherto. That further stimulated his entry into adult cricket. He was subsequently named in the South Zone squad for the national T20 in March. In his only appearance of the tournament, Srivastava sizzled with an unbeaten 24 off seven deliveries, including three sixes off four deliveries in an over.

"After the U19 World Cup, I understood how the level is, because I've never seen that type of level before. I've never seen that quality before. So the first time my eyes got open, like seeing that level, seeing that pace, that spin quality. So after I came back from the World Cup, the preparation, even though it was slightly similar, I understood what specific things I needed to work on, what specific areas these guys will target when I go to higher levels, I'm a short batsman, they'll pull a lot more short balls at me, and spinners will bowl a lot more faster and consistent lengths. So those things I figured out, so I just had to battle it.

Srivastava was right to make those quick inferences about his game. His diminutive figure, did prompt a barrage of short balls from Scotland from the get go. But he was upto the task. He foiled those plans by smoking a couple to the mid-wicket fence.

"I set up for the short one, because I know they're gonna bowl short ones at me. I'm short. And so Jarvis, he was bowling back of the length the whole game to all the players, but no one was pulling him. They were waiting for the full ones and driving. So I'm short, so that back of the length basically becomes short to me. And another thing that was very satisfying for me was that I barely played any dot ball. I rotated strike very well that game, so it was something that I was happy with."

Srivastava did not allow the off the field turmoil around him or his lack of game time to stagnate his batting. On the long tour of Namibia, he would spend his off days training in an indoor facility close to the hotel. "I went there seven or eight times on our off days. There was a guy who fed the machine. I used to pay him, like USD 20 and he used to feed me balls on the bowling machine. And I did that a lot. In Dallas as well, I've gone on off days and trained with my U19 friends"

While there was never the question about the promise Srivastava held with the bat, there has been constant chatter about how he may have been parachuted in the team ahead of some senior players who have been ahead of the pecking order through their performances in the MLC and Minor league. Srivastava admits to battling inner demons in overcoming those inhibitions that have been consistent since his arrival on the scene.

"Every single tour that is something that I've always been a little itchy about, a little bit nervous about that. There's always someone else who can always replace me. And a lot of people talk, a lot of people have said that I might be too young, so that thing has always been, like a constant fear to me but wouldn't say a threat. But obviously back of the mind it's always there. It's been there for the whole three tours. I think I needed to earn the respect of everyone. but I think I needed an innings like this"