Mayank Agarwal knocking on Indian team's door?

One of the strongest contenders for India’s next assignment was Mayank Agarwal but the young Karnataka boy did not get his deserved due despite scoring more than 2000 runs in a single domestic season.

Many fans and critics expected the middle order batsman to make it to the squad for the Nidahas triangular series which features hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However the selectors opted for a T20 specialist and went with Baroda batsmen Deepak Hooda.

Agarwal has an astounding record in the ongoing domestic season. He has almost single handedly guided Karnataka to the final of the Vijay Hazare trophy. The right handed middle order batsman has scored fifties in six of his last seven innings.

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In these seven innings, Agarwal has scored three centuries and has three scores in 80’s.

The latest selection has been more of a like for like replacement. The selectors have rested big players after a grueling tour of South Africa. The likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya have been rested which has made way for Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant and newbie Vijay Shankar.

However, these selections still do not justify the exclusion of Mayank Agarwal who has been knocking on the Indian senior for quite some time now.

Being a middle order batsman this was being seen as the best opportunity for Agarwal to make it to the Indian team. With no Virat Kohli, the Indian middle order is vulnerable.

However, one justification for ignoring him could be that more than ‘Justice’ it’s more about keeping the right balance in the side. With the format being a 20 over format, India needed a more hard hitting batsman in the middle order and Deepak Hooda has shown his ability to use the long handle in the IPL and then in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Mayank’s total runs now stand at 2141 with with another 90 in the final of the Vijay hazare trophy against Saurashtra.

Almost seven years after his debut season, this was Mayank’s best chance to make it to the senior level. It was a kind of season which eventually hands the player the ticket to the Indian team but on missing out this time it will be interesting to see if Mayank could still keep this hunger for runs in the remainder of the season which involves the lucrative Indian Premier League.

Agarwal has been bought by Kings XI Punjab for 1 crores. His base price was set at 20 lakhs. With this run scoring spree Kings XI would be hoping that Agarwal could maintain his hunger for runs and see the IPL as an opportunity which eventually gets him into the Indian team.

Here’s the news feed:

Vijay Hazare Trophy Final 2017/18: Mayank Continues Dominant Run as Karnataka Lift Title

Mayank Agarwal Needs to Play for India A First Before Being Considered for Senior Selection