Glenn Maxwell's march towards the World Cup has gathered momentum but the potent batsman feels he is yet to secure a spot in Australia's squad, let alone their first-choice XI.
Maxwell top-scored in Australia's tour-opening Twenty20 win over India in Vizag, producing a polished knock of 56 on a pitch where batsmen from both sides largely struggled to score freely.
The Victorian timed the ball impeccably and delivered eight boundaries under pressure after Australia crashed to 2-5, giving coach Justin Langer a timely reminder of his capacity to change the course of a game in a couple of overs.
Uncertainty looms large over the batting order that Australia will entrust during their World Cup defence later this year in England, where Steve Smith and David Warner are set to return.
Further clues will come when Langer's team and India meet in a five-match ODI series that starts in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Maxwell batted at No.7 in the recent ODI series between the same sides, prompting Allan Border to suggest he was being "wasted" so low down the order.
Langer is yet to tell Maxwell where he is likely to bat against India in the one-dayers, while the deadline for World Cup squads to be submitted is still two months away.
"I have no idea if I'm going to be in that World Cup squad and what number I'm going to bat," Maxwell told reporters.
"I suppose it just comes down to opportunity and if I keep making the most of opportunities, like tonight...
"If I can turn those sort of innings into not out 75-ish and be consistent that way, I think I can probably go a long way to pencilling my name in for the World Cup squad."
Captain Aaron Finch was full of praise for Maxwell, who scored almost half of Australia's runs as they reached 7-127.
"Maxi played a hell of an innings on a pitch that was tough to bat on," Finch said.
Maxwell noted the deck offered up a different challenge compared to what he and other Australians became used to during the BBL.
"I was just trying to get forward, stay as low as I could and try and cover my stumps," he said.
"This whole Big Bash, it's probably been the opposite.
"I've been trying to stand taller at the crease and be still."
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