Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul went hell for leather in Sharjah, smoking the Rajasthan Royals bowling-attack to all corners of the ground on Sunday. It was a masterclass by the Karnataka duo as they smashed records for fun.
Mayank Agarwal continued from where he had left in the first game but unlike his innings against the Delhi Capitals, where he took his time before exploding at the back-end, Agarwal hit his straps right from the very outset, dominating the Rajasthan Royals bowling attack with absolute disdain.
Anything pitched short was disdainfully smoked over backward square even as KL Rahul continued to paint the field with his sumptuous strokeplay. The duo brought up the 50-run-stand in just the 5th over and with the openers going great guns, Steve Smith turned to his spin-bowling duo but that didn’t have any effect on Mayank Agarwal. The Indian Test opener displayed why he is one of the best players of spin bowling in the current era as he took the attack to both Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal, smoking them for sixes on a consistent basis.
FIFTY with a MAXIMUM.
That's a splendid half-century by @mayankcricket off 26 deliveries. His second in #Dream11IPL 2020.#RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/vq6qJ7m6zz
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 27, 2020
Mayank Agarwal brought up his 2nd IPL 2020 fifty with an inside-out six over extra-cover off Shreyas Gopal and the celebrated it by going downtown for yet another six to bring up KXIP’s hundred as he and KL Rahul became the first opening pair to rack up a 100+ stand in the 2020 IPL.
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Records galore for Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul in Sharjah
The moment that Mayank Agarwal had been waiting for finally came in the 15th over as he carted Shreyas Gopal for yet another boundary to not only notch up his maiden IPL ton but also become the second-fastest Indian to do so [in 45 balls just behind Yusuf Pathan, who had scored in 37 balls against MI in 2010]. Mayank’s innings and his partnership finally came to an end in the 17th over as the right-hander finally mistimes one straight to Sanju Samson at deep mid-wicket, but not before he and Rahul had notched up the third-highest opening stand in IPL history.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Mayank Agarwal’s hundred and his 183-run-stand with KL Rahul-
A 45 ball 100 for Mayank. To back up what he did in the first game. Love his composure and hunger to keep piling on the runs. #KXIP #RRvKXIP
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 27, 2020
Take a bow Mayank, brilliant batting, first IPL ? many more to come ?? @mayankcricket @lionsdenkxip #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) September 27, 2020
The opening stand of 183 runs between @klrahul11 and @mayankcricket today is..
– Third highest opening stand in IPL
– Second highest for KXIP for any wicket in IPL
– Highest v RR for any wicket in IPL
LIVE: https://t.co/6c2KaRgxSo pic.twitter.com/Q9WOVOP99n
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) September 27, 2020
Both KL and Mayank have looked in total control and have made UAE their home ground(s)!#IPL2020 #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/voPS4oYmJC
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 27, 2020
From Javed Miandad to Sachin Tendulkar to Saeed Anwar to these boys now, I think the batsmans love this venue #RRvKXIP
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) September 27, 2020
Mayank Agarwal what a fantastic knock! A 45-ball century. Plays proper cricketing shots. Sensational batting. Already hit 89 v DC but would’ve been disappointed not to finish the game. This has been a top knock. Should he be part of the indian LOI team?@mayankcricket #RRvKXIP
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 27, 2020
At CricViz we use our advanced shot-type data to give batsmen and innings ratings for different aspects of their play.
Today, Mayank Agarwal had a Power Rating of 224. That's the third highest for any knock (20+ balls) in #IPL2020, behind Samson v CSK, and Watson v RR.#RRvKXIP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 27, 2020
Only the second IPL season when the first two centuries came from Indian batsmen – KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal.
Other season was 2011 (Valthaty and Sachin)#IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 27, 2020
200* runs for KL Rahul without getting dismissed. #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 27, 2020
Am I witnessing an IPL match or a gully cricket match?Unbelievable batting by @mayankcricket and @klrahul11! Entertainment at its best #RRvKXIP #IPL2020
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) September 27, 2020
A brilliant innings by @mayankcricket comes to an end on 106.#RR have their first wicket.
Live – https://t.co/T6B9MF7F54 #RRvKXIP #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/pS0THbeZPm
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 27, 2020
50 ? already in just 27 balls! ?
Manku de Rahul de vadhiya start ik vaari hor ?
Follow the match here: https://t.co/NcgtsTIMkB#SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP #KXIP
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) September 27, 2020
First game – Mayank fifty ✅
Second game – Rahul hundred ✅
Third game – Both Mayank and Rahul fifty-plus ✅@lionsdenkxip openers on fire in #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 27, 2020
Here’s how Twitter reacted-
138 from 12 overs – this is now the highest opening partnership in Kings XI Punjab's history.
The previous record was held by Adam Gilchrist and Paul Valthaty, against Deccan Chargers back in 2011.#IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 27, 2020
Eh must say six-hitting seems to have got a lot easier at #Sharjah since the time little men were hitting big fellas into the stands two decades ago #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) September 27, 2020
Credit to Mayank for matching KL on strike-rate. Definitely looking like his breakthrough IPL season.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) September 27, 2020
Mayank is one of the best (if not the best) against spin in domestic cricket.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) September 27, 2020
nothing to see here, just a couple of old buddies having a casual hitabout #RRvKXIP #IPL2020
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 27, 2020
Easy peasy to the eyes, this duo @mayankcricket & @klrahul11 #RRvKXIP
— Rajal Arora (@RajalArora) September 27, 2020
Mayank Agarwal brings up his half-century off just 26 deliveries. Terrific batting by Kings XI Punjab. #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) September 27, 2020
K L RAHUL & MAYANK AGARWAL well set
POORAN, MAXWELL in next
Say your prayers Rajasthan, Tsunami of sixes coming your way ??#KXIP #RRvKXIP #RR— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) September 27, 2020
KXIP are 86-0 after eight overs. Only three times in their history have they been on a higher score, having lost no wickets, at this stage of an innings. #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 27, 2020
Mayank Agarwal hitting 4 or more sixes in an IPL inns:
2011 to 2019 – Once in 72 innings
2020 – Twice in 3 innings#IPl2020 #RRvKXIP
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/ShoaibJii/status/1310226825012899841?s=19
Mayank is batting so beautifully and what a tournament this is turning out for him so far… #RRvKXIP
— JATIN (@jatin_kumar13) September 27, 2020
Aaya naa maza…super batting by @lionsdenkxip…expect the same when @rajasthanroyals bats…Butler back…Samson..Smith…ufff…some action in store tonight #RRvKXIP #IPL2020 @StarSportsIndia @DisneyPlusHS
— Samip Rajguru (@samiprajguru) September 27, 2020
Gopal bowling to Rahul. Mayank at the non-striker end. Tough to believe that a team from Bangalore isn’t playing tonight. ? #RRvKXIP #IPL2020
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 27, 2020
Back to back boundaries by KL Rahul off Jofra Archer!!
Great cover drives!!#iplseason13 #IPL2020 #KXIPvsRR #KXIPvRR #RRvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/kT8jO2iQX7
— Pratik Jawanjal (@PratikJawanja17) September 27, 2020
OVERSTEPPING ka ?
FREE HIT COMING UP…#SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #RRvKXIP #KXIP pic.twitter.com/ciNFwUgsH5
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) September 27, 2020
Rahul vs Archer in IPL
34 balls
58 runs
No dismissals
SR 170.59#RRvKXIP #IPL2020— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) September 27, 2020