Shikhar Mohan, a boy from Ranchi, credits senior guidance after Under-19 century

Shikhar Mohan said during the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai he received advice from Ishan that helped him adjust his shot selection and concentration. He also recalled an Under-19 match against Uttar Pradesh in which he was chasing 400 on the final day and scored an unbeaten 100.

"The second season is always more important because the opposition knows more about you. Teams analyse your strengths and weaknesses, so you have to keep improving," Mohan said, describing the pressure he faces as opponents study him more closely. "For example, he told me there was no need to play the sweep shot in certain situations. He helped me understand what to play and what to avoid. That guidance made a big difference when I was building my innings."

On his routine and concentration, Mohan said: "Before facing a ball, I talk to myself. I remind myself to watch the ball and stay focused. That has helped me a lot." He credited Ishank Jaggi for reinforcing that approach, saying, "Ishank Jaggi bhai also helped me with this, especially when he was with the Under-19 team. I started concentrating more and focusing on one ball at a time. That approach has really helped me."

Mohan recounted a specific Under-19 encounter against Uttar Pradesh to illustrate his mindset under pressure. "I was batting on 20 when a ball hit me on the chest. I went off the field and returned after we lost two wickets. We were chasing a target of 400 on the final day, and I scored an unbeaten 100. We fell 40 runs short when the day ended," he said, outlining the sequence of events in that chase.

Mohan is identified in the headline as another boy from Ranchi making himself count, and his comments link the Duleep Trophy experience in Chennai with lessons applied previously at Under-19 level.

"That innings remains very special to me," he added.