IPL 2020: Mayank Agarwal reveals why he didn't come out to bat in Super Over against DC

Kings XI Punjab’s opening IPL 2020 fixture against Delhi Capitals was nothing short of a high-octane thriller. Both KXIP and DC finished their innings on 157, resulting in the match being decided by a super over.

The Punjab side miserably failed in the super over as skipper Rahul and Nicholas Pooran were dismissed on consecutive deliveries by Kagiso Rabada. KXIP managed to gather only two runs in the super over, making it look like a cakewalk for the Capitals as they eventually hunted it down with four deliveries to spare.

Following KXIP’s misery in the super over, many fans questioned the team management’s move of not sending Mayank Agarwal into the middle. During the run-chase, Agarwal’s 89 off 60 balls had almost taken KXIP over the finishing line. Punjab were struggling at 55/5 at one stage and the victory was rather looking impossible.

But Agarwal batted till the last over of the match and almost single-handedly clinched the victory for KXIP. Many fans had expected him to come out to bat in the super over but that didn’t happen.

I wasn’t possible for me to run in super over: Mayank Agarwal

Ahead of KXIP’s game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Agarwal finally revealed the reason behind his truancy from the super over. He that he was tired and was having cramps and hence decided not to go out in the middle.

“I was tired and having cramps when I returned to the dugout after completing my innings. If I had to run a lot in the super over, it wouldn’t have been possible. That’s why I held back in the Super Over,” he told Star Sports.

29-year-old Agarwal, in the encounter against RCB, was expected to continue his stellar form and deliver with his willow yet again. He, however, was sent back to the pavilion on 26. Agarwal failed to read a googly from Yuzvendra Chahal and got bowled.

After his departure, it was captain Rahul who slammed a scintillating ton to steer KXIP to a hefty total. The skipper slammed boundaries all over the ground to decimate RCB’s bowling set-up. Toying with RCB bowlers, Rahul amassed 132 runs in just 69 deliveries and smoked 14 fours and 7 sixes in his whirlwind knock.