Mayank Agarwal’s coach reacts after he missed out on a century once again

India’s newest recruit as an opener, Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal was in the queue for making an international debut for a long time. Several veterans of the game, including the likes of Harbhajan Singh backed Agarwal’s recruitment to the national team. He was even incorporated into the squad for the home series against West Indies last year. But he didn’t make it to the playing XI back then. Agarwal finally made his debut, against Australia, in the Boxing Day Test match. He scored a promising 76 and 42 in the first two international innings.

He had a stiff task in hand at the Sydney Cricket Ground as well in the New Year’s Test. Team India elected to bat first once again and he was out there in the middle with KL Rahul. The latter didn’t last long but Agarwal with his positive run-scoring approach went on to score 77 runs on the first morning. This gave India a solid start as the Agarwal-Pujara pair established a second-wicket partnership of 116 runs.

He was really good against the spinner Nathan Lyon and didn’t let him settle with his line. Agarwal had the upper hand over the off-spinner in the MCG Test as well. He hit Lyon out for a couple of maximums and probably got a bit too greedy. It was a short of length ball, Agarwal went down the track again and wanted to hit it over the bowler’s head for a six.

He mistimed the shot and it proved to be a comfortable catch for Mitchell Starc and Agarwal walked back to the pavilion for 77 runs. With that, he missed out another scoring opportunity to score a Test hundred. Nevertheless, he has scored two Test fifty from as many matches.

Was heartbroken at his dismissal

Reacting to these promising knocks by Mayank, his coach Irfan Sait had mixed emotions. Even though Sait is proud that the opener is almost cementing his place in the Indian side as an opener, he was disheartened that the latter couldn’t convert the fifty into a ton.

Talkin to IndiaToday, Sait said, “I am heartbroken at his dismissal, but I a happy Mayank has almost cemented his place in the team. Look at his consistency. He has now two half half-centuries and a good 42 in the three innings he had played so far Down Under.”

“Once again making an ambitious attempt to repeat a six! I hope he learns from this and eschew such shots in the innings to follow. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching every single ball he played,” he added.

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~ Written by Sritama Panda

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