India’s opening batter Mayank Agarwal stated that newly appointed head coach Rahul Dravid is very approachable and he could just share what is going in his mind with him on the phone.

Mayank has worked with Dravid when he represented India A and since then has shared a good bonhomie with the coach.

Dravid is well known to get the best out of the young players and Mayank heaped praise on the former Indian skipper. Rahul has always given space to the young players and they have blossomed under his tutelage.

Dravid has taken over the coaching reins from Ravi Shastri, who also did a fine job for the national team in the last four years.

“There are a few points that I would want to talk to him about and he has been approachable,” Agarwal told the Press Trust of India.

“And it is not only now, even before, when we were part of India A, but we could also just pick up the phone and speak to him and share what was on our mind. He is very approachable that way,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mayank Agarwal is not part of the T20I squad but he has been training in Mumbai with Test specialists. The Karnataka batter is added to the Test squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand.

Mayank hasn’t received his opportunity to open in Test matches since Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have grabbed their chances along with experienced Rohit Sharma. Agarwal added that he is looking forward to the Test series.

“I am really looking forward to (the series) and I am really excited to be part of the team against New Zealand,” the 30-year-old said.

The flamboyant batter had a good run in IPL 2021 while playing for Punjab Kings as he scored 441 runs in 12 matches at an average of 40.09 and a strike rate of 140.44.

“I think, I was very happy with the way I have performed (in the IPL). I have really grown into the role that the team expected of me and I have been an aggressor upfront and whenever the opportunity presented; I looked to bat through the innings,” Mayank added.

The first Test match between India and New Zealand will be played from November 25 at Kanpur.