Three years ago, Divyaansh Saxena made his first-class debut for Mumbai. Since then, he has played just three matches in the format. The runs came whenever opportunities presented themselves, but a regular place in a side brimming with batting talent remained elusive.
For a young cricketer who had shared an under-19 World Cup dressing room with Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Tilak Varma, watching his contemporaries move ahead while waiting for his own turn was not easy.
His latest opportunity came after Ayush Mhatre was ruled out with an injury and Jaiswal joined the Indian team in New Zealand. However, in his first game of the season against Himachal Pradesh, he scored only nine, and followed it up with 10 and an unbeaten 30 against Haryana as Mumbai sealed another bonus-point win.
But he remains confident of a turnaround.
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“Among the batsmen from my under-19 batch, Tilak, Ravi Bishnoi and everyone else is playing in the IPL and for India. I always believed that I was capable too. It was just about getting the right opportunities and performing when those opportunities came,” Saxena said ahead of Mumbai’s fixture against Railways.
He does not hide how difficult those years were.
“Of course, it was very frustrating for three or four years. I wasn’t getting chances despite scoring runs. But that opportunity has finally come, and now I am thinking about how I can make the best use of it.”
If the wait was long, the work never stopped.
The transition back into the Mumbai side has not yet brought the big score he would have wanted. But Saxena is not allowing that to weigh on him. Mumbai has made a strong start to its Ranji Trophy campaign, collecting 21 points from three matches, and he is keen to play his part in keeping that momentum going.
“I don’t think there is any sort of pressure on me because the team is doing well. My mindset is to contribute to the team and help us get seven points,” said the 25-year-old.
The previous game offered a reminder of what he can bring to the side. On a turning surface at the MCA-BKC ground , Mumbai had about 100 runs to chase, and Saxena joined Angkrish Raghuvanshi to stitch together a partnership that helped the team secure seven points.
Nobody, he said, had expected Mumbai to complete the chase without losing a wicket. But the experience of playing on difficult surfaces in Mumbai’s club circuit, particularly in the Kanga League, came in handy.
“We had played a lot of club cricket in Mumbai, particularly on wickets in the Kanga League, where batting can be difficult. We carried that experience into the game, and it helped us. Personally, the previous match gave me a lot of confidence. I remained unbeaten on 30, and the team also got seven points,” he said.
For now, he is looking to build on that confidence and convert a start into a substantial innings. He knows that opportunities at the top of Mumbai’s batting order are hard-earned, and he does not want to let another one slip.
“I am just waiting for the opportunity to get a good start, and if I get one, I will try to convert it into a big score.”
The support of senior members of the dressing room has also helped him through the difficult patches. Sandeep Patil, the team mentor, who has watched him closely over the years, has been particularly reassuring. After Saxena fell cheaply in the first innings of the previous match, the senior adviser reminded him of his ability and urged him not to waste a start when it comes.
“He has seen me play in Bengaluru and even before that, so he knows what I am capable of. He keeps reminding me that it is okay if you miss out in one or two innings. But whenever you get a start, you shouldn’t let it go. You should go out there and score a big hundred, a daddy hundred,” Saxena said.
Opening the batting for Mumbai comes with its own demands. The new ball, particularly in red-ball cricket, can make life uncomfortable, and Saxena is aware that a little bit of luck is often necessary before an opener can settle down.
“You do feel a little anxious. Facing the new ball is always challenging. The new ball does everything. After that, batting gradually becomes easier. As an opener, you also need a little bit of luck,” he said.
But if there is one thing the long wait has taught him, it is not to take an opportunity for granted. Even now, with a place in the XI, he does not believe in relaxing or looking too far ahead. For Mumbai, every game demands the same commitment.
“When you are playing first-class cricket for Mumbai, you have to perform in every game. You need to have the right mindset and preparation, irrespective of whether you are assured of your place or not. Every game I play for Mumbai, I approach it as if it is my final game. That is how you have to play.”
After three years of waiting, Saxena finally has a run in the side. The numbers may still be modest, but the opportunity is there. He knows what it took to get back, and now the task is to make the most of it.
Published on Nov 01, 2026
