LUCKNOW, Aug. 19 -- Despite having bags full of runs in the first two seasons of the UPTwenty20 League, a big hitter of the ball Madhav Kaushik didn't get any buyer for two consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024) of the cash-rich Indian Premier League and it was quite disappointing for him. But that didn't dampen his spirits to score big runs in the third season of the state league too, and with an unbeaten 95 off just 31 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and seven scintillating sixes in the opening match, Kaushik once again drew the attention of IPL scouters. Kaushik's powerful batting and unbeaten 130-run stand for the third-wicket with Rituraj Sharma (60, 36b, 4x4, 4x6) helped defending champions Meerut Mavericks notch up 86-run victory over Kanpur Superstars at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here. "I am the wrong person to ask as to why I was not picked up any IPL franchises despite my fine batting in both the UPT20L seasons, but I am sure that even at the trials for a few franchise, I did well," said Kaushik on the eve of the MM's match against Lucknow Falcons. "There is no change in my focus as playing the IPL is my biggest dream right now and I would also like to score big runs again. I am not going to leave any stone unturned. I have set big milestones for me," said Kaushik, who finished at the third position among the top batters in the 2024 season of the UPT20L with 366 runs. In the maiden season of the event in 2023, he also had 350 runs with 88 being his best at a strike rate of 147.06. Belonging to a family of businessmen in Delhi, Kaushik besides showing his mark in the shortest format of the game, has also done well in the domestic cricket with 1090 runs in 22 first-class matches and has scored 877 runs in 23 List A matches. "I enjoy hitting the ball hard and this season we have set a target of scoring 200 plus runs in all the matches if we bat first. Even on Sunday, Rituraj and I were committed to scoring 200 plus runs and that's why I was hitting from the very first ball," said Kaushik, 27. Having the support of his family to pursue a career in cricket, Kaushik said playing the Bazball style of cricket is the new mantra of the Meerut Mavericks this season. "Everyone in the team has been told to hit from the very first ball and we are happy to enjoy the Bazball style of cricket in this format of the game," he added. Kaushik also accepted that even after missing a chance in this year's IPL, he kept working hard on his training and fitness. "I didn't stop playing cricket even for a day during the off-season and was focused on my fitness training too. I did innovative practice this year and I am working hard to go to the next level. I am trying to perform better in future," the batter said. He further said he enjoyed batting in formats of the game, and this consolidated with the fact that he has so far scored 300 centuries and equal number of half-centuries in first-class matches. Before playing against Bangladesh for India in under-23 series, Kaushik fared well in the Cooch Behar Trophy and later played in Deodhar Trophy for Central Zone and played a knock of 158 runs....