Mayank Agarwal reveals the secret of his splendid performances

It’s not even a year since Mayank Agarwal forayed into Test cricket for the Indian cricket team and in this short period he has flourished. There was a time when Virat Kohli and Co were straining to find the appropriate candidates for the opening slot in the longest format. Agarwal came in during the MCG Test last year versus Australia and immediately showed his sheer class and calibre.

After the first 10 innings of his Test career, the Karnataka batter already has an average in excess of 60, displaying consistency. He has flourished even in the ongoing Test series against South Africa. Agarwal churned out his maiden Test ton in Visakhapatnam and he converted it into a double century. He carried forward his form even in the second Test at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

On Day one, he notched 108 runs off 195 balls with the help of 16 boundaries and a couple of sixes before getting out to Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas’ most successful bowler of the day. After the day’s play, Agarwal had a brief chat with teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, who got a 112-ball 58. During the conversation, Mayank revealed the secret to his jaw-dropping shows in red-ball cricket.

Mayank Agarwal makes the revelations

Pujara had the mic in hand and he asked Mayank about the opener’s diet over the past few days. Agarwal reverted, naming some delicious South Indian dishes. “Simple, South Indian idlis – 2 of them with some coconut chutney and sambhar,” Mayank was quoted as saying.

India did an excellent job on the first day as they ended with 273 for three in 85.1 overs. After the hosts lost Rohit Sharma to Rabada, Agarwal and Pujara’s 138-run stand got the team back into the business. Following his splendid knock, Mayank told that ‘mental discipline’ has helped him put in the consistent shows at the highest level.

“Very happy that I could get back-to-back hundreds, that’s a good feeling. 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. Plenty of long-distance running, meditation and working on my game, some of the things I could so, some I couldn’t, it was always about mental discipline,” he mentioned.

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