Mayank Agarwal, born in 1991 at Bangalore, is primarily an opening batsman and has been piling on the runs over the past few seasons. Agarwal came under the spotlight when he struck 432 runs at an average of 54 in five matches in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy in 2008-09. He followed that up with a match-winning 160 for India Under-19s, in a one-dayer against Australia Under-19s in Hobart in 2009. He also had a great U-19 World Cup the following year but couldn't help India do well in the tournament. Following that, he gratuated to the India A and has been in and around the side. Agarwal made his Ranji Trophy debut for Karnataka in the 2013-14 season; he made his T20 debut in 2010-11 and List A debut in 2011-12 but has struggled for consistency. He was dropped for the entire 2014-15 season, which according to Rahul Dravid was a "wake-up call" for the opener. Since then, he has worked on his fitness and technique and scored his maiden first-class century the following season. He has been a traveler in the IPL and has played for Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rising Pune Supergiant and is currently playing for Kings XI Punjab. However, his form in domestic cricket has been sensational over the past two seasons but was overlooked by the selectors until last year, when Prithvi Shaw was ruled out due to an injury and he was called up for the last two Tests against Australia. Mayank made his Test debut against the Aussies in the Boxing Day Test and registered two scores over 70 in the first two Test matches he played. Mayank is expected to be India's No.1 choice opener along with Shaw for the upcoming future after the World Cup.
Read MoreKohli's best-ever Test score of 254 and his 225-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (91) in only 39.1 overs formed the cornerstone of India's mammoth 601 for five declared.
Pujara has seen a lot of Agarwal in the domestic arena and believes it is the consistent scores in domestic cricket that has made him what he is today.
Coming back to the venue that witnessed his first-class resurgence, Mayank scored 108 runs to not just steady India's ship on the moist Pune track, but also book a berth for a long run as India's primary-choice opener.
Opener Mayank Agarwal slammed his second consecutive Test hundred on Thursday, putting India in a solid position against South Africa.
The 28-year-old's rich vein of form continued as he looked in complete command for his 108 off 195 balls, having made a sublime 215 in the series opener in Visakhapatnam last week.
Mayank Agarwal scored his second century in Test cricket with a battling innings against South Africa at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
In the first Test against South Africa which India won by 203 runs at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, Mayank Agarwal scored a brilliant double hundred and helped India post a monstrous first-inning total of 502/7 declared.
India defeated South Africa by 203 runs in the opening Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
Agarwal, who made his India debut against Australia in December last year, struggled a bit in the West Indies but he converted his maiden Test hundred into a brilliant double ton (215).
India spinners bowled faster than their South African counterparts and got more purchase out of the surface. Maharaj said the deteriorating pitch was also a reason Indian spinners doing well.
Playing his first Test in India, Agarwal showed remarkable concentration and endurance for his monumental 215 off 371 balls that allowed the hosts to declare their first innings at 502 for seven on Thursday.
Mayank Agarwal struck 215 as India scored a massive 502 for seven declared to take a grip of the opening Test against South Africa in Visakhapatnam.
Mayank seemed elated with his performances and was at a loss of words when asked to describe his feelings on achieving the triple-figure mark on home debut.
Mayank's individual score of 215 is thus far the highest score by any batsman in Test cricket this year, surpassing Australian star Steve Smith's 211 which he scored in the fourth Ashes Test
With India skipper Virat Kohli declaring the innings at 502/7, the idea was to give the spinners a go before stumps to assess what the pitch has on offer and the duo of Ashwin and Jadeja didn't disappoint.
The 28-year-old is now the fourth Indian batsman after Karun Nair, Vinod Kambli and Dilip Sardesai to convert their maiden Test tons into a double century.
Mayank Agarwal converted his maiden Test ton into a double century on his home debut.
Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal stitched a partnership of 317 on day 2, the 12th-highest opening stand in Test history and second-highest for India.
Mayank Agarwal scored his maiden Test century on Thursday as play resumed on day two of the first Test between India and South Africa.
Opener Mayank Agarwal smashed his maiden Test double century as India declare first innings at 502/7. While Ashwin-Jadeja duo ran riot to remove Africa top-order on Day 2.
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