For someone so rigorous with his training and desperate to constantly get better with his game, it must be frustrating to have not had a net session for five straight weeks. Yet, Mayank Agarwal is fighting this phase through, embracing life under a new routine with more time than the norm with his family, as the world remains on indefinite standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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"When the lockdown was imposed, for a brief while I felt like I wasn't an asset anymore," the Indian Test opener told Cricbuzz, explaining the challenges faced during this phase. "It was like my contribution went from something to nothing. Suddenly I needed to do something apart from my sport which would help me add value at home, and at the same time upgrade myself."

The Karnataka right-hander has never been away from cricket for this long. "Yes, probably the longest I haven't been able to bat in the nets. For most of us who are used to having a busy schedule and routine, it is tough not to be doing what we are used to," he said. "The break is nice, yes. But not having something to look forward to, and not knowing when this is all going to get over and we can get back to the routine, is a little strange."

"As much as we are hardworking, we also have to be flexible in understanding the situation and respond accordingly," added Agarwal. "For me, it is about accepting the situation, which was to help out at home, and back the government by staying indoors, following the guidelines and contributing in whatever way I could."

Seeing the world around him reeling from an unprecedented health crisis, Agarwal is feeling grateful for the life he can live. "It's made me even more grateful for everything I have and whatever we have been blessed with," he said. 

"I feel fortunate for the three meals I eat. I think as a sportsman we're blessed to have the opportunity to go out and play a sport. This phase has made me count my blessings more," added the 29-year-old. 

The break has given players an opportunity to introspect but also made them wary of the fitness challenges. "Fitness for me is not just about working on the physical aspect," Agarwal said. "It is also a lot of mental discipline, because there are times during training or working out when you feel like stopping. You just don't feel like pushing beyond the limits." 

"As sportsmen, we know often the mind gives up before the body. So, having a mindset to be fit helps in breaking that mental indiscipline."

For Agarwal, the fitness routine also includes meditation, to keep himself calm and away from any negative thoughts. 

"Meditation is a journey inward," he said. "It is about knowing and understanding yourself better. It creates awareness and helps you respond to situations better. Having gone through that (the Vipassana -meditation technique - course) and having lots more time now at hand to go back to that journey again has helped."

There is no certainty when he would be able to play for India again, but Agarwal realises there are bigger things to worry about at this stage. 

"In these times, it is important to think beyond our sport," he said. "The hard truth is that there are far more important things to worry about in the world than playing sport. If anything, we have to think about how we can contribute."

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)