India have been doing pretty well in the Tests where the bowlers and openers did wonderfully. Mayank Agarwal once again performed well as he scored 108 and helped India reach 273/3 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test against South Africa on Thursday in Pune. It was his second century in as many Tests after he notched up a double ton in his maiden Test in the first innings of the first Test in Visakhapatnam.
With this, he became only the second Indian opener after Virender Sehwag (2009-10) to score tons against South Africa in back-to-back Tests matches. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma remains the only India opener to hit centuries in both innings of a Test against South Africa, an achievement he earned in the first Test in Visakhapatnam.
“I’m very happy that I could get back-to-back hundreds, that’s a good feeling,” Mayank Agarwal said after the match.
In Visakhapatnam, he became the fourth Indian batsman after Dilip Sardesai, Vinod Kambli and Karun Nair to convert his maiden Test ton into a double century.
Read here: Virat Kohli Achieves Another Record in Tests
“The team is in a good position… Winning the toss, batting first and with one batsman short, it’s a good thing to make runs. There were periods when runs weren’t coming easily, they bowled some tight spells and didn’t let us score,” the opener said. “Plenty of long-distance running, meditation and working on my game… It was always about mental discipline.”
Post game laughs courtesy Mayank & Pujara 😅😅
Of breakfast routines, transition from domestic to international cricket & taking Playstation lessons. @mayankcricket & @cheteshwar1 discuss it all. Interview by @RajalArora
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— BCCI (@BCCI) October 10, 2019
“There was some moisture in the wicket and Philander and Rabada bowled tight lines. We knew we would get beaten, so we needed to play tight, play the straight lines and wait for the bad balls. 450-500 should be a good score to put pressure on South Africa… Don’t know if we need to bat a second time,” Mayank Agarwal said.
He hit 16 fours and two sixes in his 108 before Rabada dismissed him.
