2nd Test: Looking ugly while leaving deliveries is no issue for Mayank Agarwal | Cricket News – Times of India

With regular opener Rohit Sharma opting to take a break, the 30-year-old came into the spotlight yet again against New Zealand. Agarwal disappointed in the first Test at Kanpur as he was dismissed in both innings while attempting to play away from his body.
Leading into the second Test at Wankhede, there were even talks that Agarwal should make way for Virat Kohli in the playing XI. Not a very comforting scenario for someone who is trying to revive his struggling career. But then a precocious talent he is Agarwal, batted like a dream on Day 1 of the second Test to notch up his fifth Test hundred on a tricky Wankhede surface.
Even as he took on the dangerous left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel by hitting him for four sixes, Agarwal made sure that he left plenty of deliveries outside the off-stump as he soldiered his way to an unbeaten 120.
He had no qualms in admitting that he didn’t mind looking unattractive to get the job done for his team.
“That is something (leaving the balls) I have thought about, but this innings was more about grit and determination, just to stick with the plan, be disciplined. I know I didn’t look good sometimes, but I got the job done,” he said.
Agarwal may have put India in the driver’s but that hasn’t brought him job security as he may still have to make way for the regular openers Rohit and KL Rahul.
“When I was picked, Rahul bhai spoke to me. He asked me to control what is in my hands and said, ‘go out there and give it your best’. He had told me ‘When you get set, make it big’. I am happy to have capitalized on the start that I had. But that message was very clear from Rahul bhai, that I should make it count,” he added.
Agarwal did well to break the shackles with decisive footwork against Patel who was the pick of New Zealand bowlers. He said it was deliberate attempt to unsettle the spinner. “He was bowling exceedingly well. But each time anything that was in our half, the plan was to be a bit more attacking. Anything that came a little towards us in length, we were going to go for it. He had that phase when he tied us down, so it was a conscious decision to make it count when we could,” he said.