Agarwal makes big impact, rides on classical technique
LONDON: After scoring 243 in the win over Bangladesh in Indore, Mayank Agarwal became the first Indian opener to score two double tons in a calendar year since Virender Sehwag in 2008. The 28-year-old’s innings also saw his average touch 71.50, placing him atop the list of openers to have batted at least 10 times in Test cricket.
Agarwal’s rise has been meteoric. This time last year, he was in the midst of seemingly endless tours with India A, making solid if unspectacular scores against New Zealand A. But his ability to make big scores meant he was already on the selectors’ radar— three white-ball centuries for India A in the English summer of 2018 alongside a first-class 220 against South Africa A in August meant he was the next cab off the rank for the Australia tour.
Agarwal equipped himself well Down Under, dealing well with the extra pace, only succumbing to Pat Cummins, who was bowling better than ever in that series; 195 runs in three innings meant he had done enough. Since then, Agarwal has nailed down his position with two centuries against South Africa before his career-best innings against Bangladesh propelled him above every opener in the history of the game—at least for the time being.
In an era when opening has rarely been as difficult as it is now, Agarwal’s start to his Test career is nothing short of extraordinary. What also sets him apart is his classical technique. He is yet to make the same waves in white-ball cricket— though a List A average of 50.60 suggests he could yet do so. And his blueprint in Test cricket is that of a traditional opener.
That said, Agarwal showed in Indore he can clear the ropes, equalling the most sixes in an innings by an Indian in Tests with eight. However, his path to Test stardom has differed greatly from that of opening
partner, Rohit Sharma, who became a demi-god in the shorter formats before making the transition in the Test arena. Either way, in the shape of Agarwal, India have solved a problem that has dogged them for several years. Many openers have been tried, discarded and recalled with varying amounts of success, leading to instability in a key batting position. If Agarwal capitalises on his early promise, India look well set for years to come.