The addition of Mayank Agarwal in the Indian National Cricket Team has certainly raised quite a few eyebrows out there. He received a call-up ahead of the players in the standby list, which stunned quite former cricketers and the analysts and well. Meanwhile, the reports reveal that it was the decision of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri to give the maiden ODI call-up for Mayank Agarwal.
Ambati Rayudu‘s exclusion by selectors panel led by MSK Prasad, considering he was kept as the batting reserve has surely raised many questions. However, the latest reports state that it was the call from the team management.
Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri wanted Mayank Agarwal:
Mayank Agarwal is yet to make his One-day International (ODI) debut. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant had only played five ODIs prior to making his World Cup debut against England on Sunday.
Speaking to IANS, sources in the know of developments said that the call to pick Mayank and not Rayudu was in fact made by the team management and not the five-member selection panel.
“The team management had made it clear. They wanted Mayank Agarwal as a replacement for the injured Shankar. There was no question of the selectors debating that,” the source said.
Mayank Agarwal had a good outing:
Agarwal’s India A form has been quite remarkable, with the Karnataka man finishing with 287 runs from just four games, averaging 71.75 with a strike rate of 105.90.
“See the record he had during the one-day series against the ‘A’ teams. You will see that he scored 287 runs in four innings with two hundreds. Not to forget his 151 against Leicestershire in the warm-up game. That series was also played in June and July. And also, the general thought is that he is versatile and can adapt well,” the source pointed.
Recently, Mayank Agarwal made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne in the Boxing Day Test, he got scores of 76 and 42 in the match as India went on to win the match. He followed that up with a knock of 77 in the next match at Sydney.