New Delhi:
Mayank Agarwal continued to have a glorious Vizag Test as he notched up his maiden double century and put India on top against South Africa. Having earlier reached his maiden century, Agarwal shared a magnificent 317-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, the best stand in Tests between India and South Africa. For most part of his knock, Agarwal played second fiddle to Rohit who was smashing the Proteas bowling to all parts of the ground. However, on his dismissal, Agarwal assumed the lead role and continued to punish the bowling.
Agarwal signalled his intentions in the second session by driving Kagiso Rabada to the deep extra cover fence and he calmly notched up his 150 by glancing a full ball from Rabada to the fine leg boundary. The right-handers confidence level grew as he blasted an inside out boundary and a six off Keshav Maharaj. Agarwal sailed through the 180s with a couple of boundaries off Senuran Muthusamy, who got the wicket of Virat Kohli.
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Agarwal entered the 190s with a six off Maharaj and he reached his double ton by drilling Maharaj for a couple down the ground and he took a couple to celebrate in a much more mellowed way as compared to his century.
Earlier, Agarwal notched upo his hundred in comical style. On 99, he drove a flighted ball from Keshav Maharaj to extra cover but the fielder misfielded. Agarwal thought about a run but he was sent back by Rohit. However, on the very next ball, Agarwal steered a flatter delivery to backward point and hared across for the single. Agarwal was emotional and he got a big hug from Rohit Sharma as India had found an opener who was solid and had the application necessary to survive in international cricket.
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Agarwal, who had a fantastic run in domestic cricket in the 2016 and 2017 period, 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.
