Although luck was not on a brilliant Rohit Sharma’s side, who fell just 23 runs short for a well-deserved double ton, his new partner Mayank Agarwal certainly full-filled that part. The opener scored a blazing 215 as India entered the Tea break in a dominating position in the first Test at Vizag.
The South Africans had a tough task containing the hosts and it took no less than 82 overs for them to finally get a breakthrough, the priced wicket of Rohit Sharma. However, by then, it had been a bit too late, with the Indian openers already wrecking havoc. The partnership of Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal yielded a total of 317 runs, the highest partnership for any wicket in Tests against South Africa. It also proved to be India’s third-highest opening stand in its Test cricket history.
While Rohit Sharma was scintillating as always in his marauding knock, it was Agarwal who impressed everyone with his confidence stroke-play. This was from a player who was under pressure to perform after managing only a solitary half-century on the West Indies tour.
Even after Sharma fell at 176, Mayank held his ground to become the 23rd Indian to hit a double century in Test cricket. The Bengaluru-based cricketer had debuted against Australia at the MCG last year, starting his career with a gritty 76 following a knock of 42 as India won by a margin of 137 runs.
This was his first Test in India, and he seems to have absolutely nailed it!
Twitter Reactions
Here’s how the Twitterati reacted as Mayank Agarwal hit a double ton:
Now Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal :~#INDvSA #INDvsSA #MayankAgarwal pic.twitter.com/HOgS7XSBO9
— HowDareYou (@maza_kiya) October 3, 2019
Kl rahul after watching Mayank agarwal innings?#INDvsSA #MayankAgarwal pic.twitter.com/cnKgdmxWqt
— adarsh kumar (@adarshk06684881) October 3, 2019
Where are edges on this bat ???? #MayankAgarwal #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/1U5t3oSONI
— divtweets (@divyamtweets) October 3, 2019
Congratulations @mayankcricket on the 200! Mayank’s journey has been a fine example of pure hard work, grit & dedication. From relentlessly scoring at the domestic level until selectors had to pick him to cementing his place purely by performance. Very inspiring#MayankAgarwal
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) October 3, 2019
Great innings by #MayankAgarwal. For his sake, I hope he continues to get opportunities with #TeamIndia. Remember Karun Nair who scored a triple hundred only to be dropped straight away? And has never really made it back.
— Ashok Lalla (@ashoklalla) October 3, 2019
Take a bow, Mayank Agarwal ??@Paytm #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/ESHjPbXP1A
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 3, 2019
Kl Rahul after watching #MayankAgarwal n Rohit Sharma's inning : pic.twitter.com/DJSkqgLVtG
— Anshuman (@Anshuman99m) October 3, 2019
Happy for Mayank Agarwal. From a bench warmer to a regular opener scoring a maiden double hundred, he has come a long way. #INDvSA #INDvsSA #MayankAgarwal
— Shantanu Smart (@smartshantanu) October 3, 2019
I won't be surprised if #MayankAgarwal is dropped from the squad in favor of KL Rahul in the coming days, after all he has committed the sin of batting well & overshadowing #Kohli
— Chandan Das (@Chandan98901341) October 3, 2019
200 in batsmen's very first Test innings on Indian soil
210 – Dean Jones
215 – Mayank Jones #IndvSA #IndvSA— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 3, 2019
Delighted for @mayankcricket. He has done it the hard way, produced a mountain of runs and now has a test hundred. The great merit of hanging in there and breaking the door down.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 3, 2019
A good century by Mayank Agarwal. He has worked hard since his debut in Australia.
The opening partnership between him & Rohit Sharma has been a joy to watch.#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/o1Z0A4uuwq— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 3, 2019
