Indian star eclipses Sir Don’s record
Dhaka: India has a new Test match batting sensation as Mayank Agarwal struck 243 to put his nation in a great spot against Bangladesh.
His incredible 330-ball innings ended late on day three as India moved to a commanding 6/493 in response to Bangladesh’s paltry 150.
Agarwal’s double century has put the 28-year-old opening batsman alongside the likes of Sir Donald Bradman after the brilliant start to his career.
Bradman got off to a brilliant start to his career with two double centuries in his first seven Tests to start his career, taking 13 innings to reach the milestone.
In his eighth Test, Agarwal reached the same milestone of two double tons, but he has only batted 12 times.
It leaves him second on the alltime list of the fastest men to two double-centuries, behind countryman Vinod Kambli, who only took five matches to reach the mark. The three men are also the only to reach the mark within their first 10 Test matches.
But it wasn’t the only record to have been beaten.
The double century also marks the first time in Test cricket history that a team has had four double centurions in four successive Tests.
It started against South Africa with Agarwal (215) in Vizag, Virat Kohli (254 not out) at Pune, Rohit Sharma (212) at Ranchi and now Agarwal against Bangladesh (243) in Indore.
Captain Kohli wanted him to get even further signalling for Agarwal to go for a triple century. The 28-year-old opener, who has hit three centuries in his last five Test innings, hit eight sixes and 28 fours in his 243.
The eight sixes is another Indian record in Test matches, drawing level with Navjot Singh Sidhu against Sri Lanka in 1994. Agarwal’s performance received plenty of praise with former players and fans rushing to celebrate the achievement.