I was lucky to make my debut at MCG: Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal finally made his Test debut on Wednesday in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne. The chance came after a long wait as Agarwal had to toil hard in domestic cricket and for India ‘A’. He had earned his maiden Test call-up for the home series against Windies but could not make his debut. He was then surprisingly dropped for the ongoing series.’ But an unfortunate injury to fellow opener, Prithvi Shaw, saw him getting a recall for the last two Tests against Australia.

With the likes of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay not in form, he was included in the playing eleven straightaway. And Agarwal grabbed the opportunities with both the hands. As expected, the Australian pacers tried to soften him with some short-pitched stuff. However, the right-handed batsman showed remarkable patience and composure to make his debut a memorable one

I won’t complain about the pitch

He mixed caution with aggression to compile a fine fifty before falling to Pat Cummins in the second session after scoring a fine 76. Speaking to the reporters after the game, he said he owed his success to the process he followed for shaping his cricketing journey. “I did whatever a player is required to do – score runs in the Ranji Trophy, and then, get a chance (national call-up). I am lucky I had my Test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground,” he said at the press conference at the end of first day’s play.

His knock was studded with eight fours and a six off-break bowler Nathan Lyon. When asked about the nature of the much-debated pitch which saw just two wickets falling in the day, Agarwal said: “I won’t complain about the pitch. It was good to bat on. It was a bit slow early on. I didn’t put much mind and thought into the wicket. I thought I would take it as it comes. You just go to stick to what you have been doing. I am happy I got runs in T20Is, ODIs and now, Tests.”

Meanwhile, India finished the day on 215 for 2 to take the opening day honours.  Following Agarwal’s departure in the last over before Tea, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli shared an unbeaten stand of 92 runs to put India in a commanding position. Pujara was unbeaten on 68 while Kohli was on 47.

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