New Delhi, Jan 17 (NationPress) The spotlight is on Vidarbha's right-handed opener Aman Mokhade, whose impressive performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has propelled the team to the finals for the second consecutive year.

As Vidarbha gears up to face Saurashtra at the BCCI CoE Ground in Bengaluru this Sunday, Mokhade aims to lead his team to victory with another explosive innings.

In the semi-final match against Karnataka, Mokhade matched the record for the most centuries in a single edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy by scoring his fifth century. He has accumulated 781 runs at an outstanding average of 97.62, making him the tournament’s top scorer.

Additionally, he has equalled South African legend Graeme Pollock's world record of reaching 1,000 List A runs in just 16 innings, becoming the fastest Indian to achieve this feat. Mokhade's rise comes after being on the sidelines of the Vidarbha squad.

With a strong top-order lineup featuring Atharva Taide, Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair, and Danish Malewar, Mokhade had limited chances to establish himself.

Jwala Singh, coach of Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, has been training Mokhade since 2023 and expresses pride in the young talent’s remarkable journey in the ongoing tournament.

“I don’t say much when a player is performing well. I keep my advice minimal, knowing they are already in a good zone. My only advice to him has been to maintain that momentum and grow it,” Jwala commented in an exclusive interview from Australia.

Mokhade's breakthrough moment this season arose when Nair returned to Karnataka and Malewar faced injury. He responded with 577 runs in the first phase of the Ranji Trophy, averaging 96.16, followed by 206 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 157.25.

Jwala reminisced about their initial connection in 2023 when Mokhade reached out to him while Jwala was in England. “He expressed his desire to train under me, and I agreed to give him a chance. I’ve provided him with valuable insights since then,” Jwala stated.

The partnership intensified after the Irani Cup in 2024, where Jwala recognized Mokhade's potential in multi-day cricket but noted the need for improvement in his stroke play. “My role as a coach is to help players like him accelerate and prepare for higher levels of competition,” he explained.

They focused on refining his pull and cut shots, as well as enhancing his ability to hit over mid-on and mid-off. “The key to success in white-ball cricket is accelerating your game,” Jwala noted.

However, technical refinement alone wasn't sufficient; Jwala also worked on keeping Mokhade motivated during periods of limited playtime. “Cricket can be a mental game. It’s crucial to stay driven and ready for opportunities, even when they are few,” he added.

Mokhade's centuries in this tournament have come against Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. His consistency across formats this season has established him as a potential all-format player.

“Mokhade has demonstrated the ability to adapt and change gears according to the format, which is rare among players. As an opening batsman, his role is critical in steering the team towards victory,” Jwala remarked.

Now in his fourth first-class season since his debut in 2022/23, Mokhade has transformed waiting into opportunity. Jwala's philosophy remains unchanged: to keep Mokhade focused on the present and to follow the process. “Cricket is a simple game of bat and ball. The more you think, the more complicated it becomes. For Aman, it’s about playing one match and one ball at a time,” he concluded.