Mayank Agarwal, India's Test cap No.295, impresses on debut
He walked out in front of a packed holiday crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, 26 December, to open in his first match. He gave a good account of himself, bringing up a maiden half-century soon after lunch.
The landmark came off 95 balls when he walked down the track and drove straight past the bowler for a boundary. He was finally dismissed just before tea for 76, gloving Pat Cummins to Tim Paine.
A special moment for @mayankcricket who is all set to make his debut at the MCG 📸🇮🇳👌🏻 #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/r0J0eD9rXz
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2018
These are just the most recent runs in a season of plenty for 27-year-old Agarwal. In the 2017-18 domestic season, he made 2253 runs in 36 innings across formats, including his maiden triple-century in a first-class game for his state Karnataka, to take the record for most runs in an Indian domestic season.
The weight of those runs earned him a call-up to the Indian squad for the home Tests against the Windies, but he didn't break into the playing XI then. With the Indian openers struggling in Australia, and with Prithvi Shaw out injured, he got his chance in the third Test of the series and grabbed it to make the highest score by an Indian on debut in Australia.
Glad to see Mayan Agarwal get the opportunity to play Test cricket and he is making it count 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #AUSvIND #BoxindDayTest
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) December 26, 2018
Loving the composure and body language exhibited by Vihari and Mayank. Hope they convert this start into a substantial score. #INDvAUS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 26, 2018
An aggressive batsman, Agarwal slowly rose through the ranks. He had been prolific in age-group cricket. In the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2010, he was India's highest run-scorer. Coincidentally, he opened with KL Rahul back then, his friend and the man he replaced in the Test side.
He credits a new mental approach to his rich returns in recent times. A spiritual person and a believer in vipassana meditation, he learnt to be less bothered by results and enjoy his game. He also worked hard on developing a skill to bat long hours and shed preconceptions that he was stronger in limited overs cricket.
Took this photo at the Hagley Oval in 2010. Eight years later one has replaced the other in the Indian Test team. Mayank Agarwal has come a long way and KL Rahul still has plenty to achieve. @klrahul11 @mayankcricket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/nODmFnP6NX
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) December 26, 2018
Mayank Agarwal now the only 2nd Indian make a 50+ on Test debut on Australian soil after Dattu Phadkar (51) at SCG in Dec 1947! #AusvInd#AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 26, 2018
A regular in the India A side, he credits coach Rahul Dravid for much of his growth. "Rahul bhai told me, 'You have to manage your mental energy. If you practice hard for three days before the game and constantly think about it before playing a four-day game, mentally you have already played three days of the four-day game.' Those words have worked wonders for me," he told Times of India in an interview.
The practice and hard work are paying off. He will hope this is only the start of a long international career.