Mayank Agarwal Blasts 2nd Century, India On Top Vs South Africa In Pune Test

Mayank Agarwal continued his great form in the ongoing series against South Africa as he notched up his second century on day one of the Pune Test against South Africa. Agarwal had gotten his series off to a great start by slamming his maiden double ton in the Vizag Test. Agarwal was on 86 at the end of the tea break and following the resumption, he neared his century in grand style as he blasted two consecutive sixes off Keshav Maharaj to move to 99. Agarwal notched up his century by steering a short and wide ball from Vernon Philander past the gully fielder for a boundary to notch up his milestone. 

Agarwal had scored over 2000 runs across formats in the Indian domestic circuit in 2017, he had admitted that Virender Sehwag is his idol. After such a magnificent season, Agarwal still did not have the key to get into the Indian Test team. An injury to Prithvi Shaw during the series in Australia, combined with hte loss in form of KL Rahul at the top, got Agarwal to open during the Melbourne Test against Australia and he ended the tour with two fifties. In Vizag, Agarwal went one better and notched up his maiden double century to help India win by over 200 runs against South Africa. 

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The knock included six sixes and this prompted former India skipper VVS Laxman to say that Agarwal played fearlessly just like Sehwag. "He is a solid batsman and has approached this game like a domestic cricket match. Players usually change the way they play in domestic and international cricket, but he managed to maintain his style in both forms of cricket. Mental toughness and stability are his strengths and he plays fearlessly just like his favourite, Virender Sehwag," Laxman said. 

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Agarwal got a chance to feature in the Indian cricket team during the series against Australia. Agarwal weathered the new ball on a sluggish pitch in Melbourne and smashed 76. His knock gave India the platform for a famous win after 37 years at the MCG. In the following Test in Sydney, Agarwal hammered 77 and looked good for a century but he played a poor shot and holed out to long on. However, India won the series 2-1.

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