IND vs NZ 2021: Mayank Agarwal Becomes 4th Indian Opener To Hit Two Fifty-Plus Scores In A Test At Wankhede

India batsman Mayank Agarwal on Sunday became only the fourth Indian opener to register two scores of 50 or more in a Test match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Having plundered 150 runs against New Zealand in the first innings, out of India’s total of 325, Mayank Agarwal scored 62 runs in the second innings. He, however, missed the opportunity to become only the 7th India batter to hit a hundred in each innings of a Test match.

The right-hander, though, joined the company of Chetan Chauhan (52, 84 in 1978), Sunil Gavaskar (205, 73 in 1978) and Kris Srikkanth (71, 65 in 1987) as India openers to notch two fifties in a Test at the Wankhede.

Mayank Agarwal was looking set to get to his second hundred of the game as he began in an attacking fashion on Day 3. But he perished at long-off while trying to smash spinner Ajaz Patel for a maximum.

It was a magnificent hundred from Mayank Agarwal: Sachin Tendulkar

Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar was effusive in praise for Mayank Agarwal’s first innings ton. Tendulkar was especially impressed by the opener’s smart gameplay against spinners, in particular milestone man Ajaz Patel.

“The way he capitalised on his start was magnificent because initially, it took him some time to get into rhythm. He stayed there and when the time was right he attacked spinners quite consistently. Some of the deliveries he attacked were good. That puts a lot of pressure on their bowling side and that is what Mayank was able to do. On the whole, it was a magnificent hundred,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

India, meanwhile, have taken a dominating position in the Mumbai Test. In reply to India’s 325, the Kiwis were bundled out for 62 as the hosts took a massive 263-run first-innings lead.

Virat Kohli, however, didn’t enforce the follow on and India batted again. Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara forged a 107-run opening stand before both were dismissed by Ajaz Patel. At the time of writing, India’s lead has extended over 400.

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