Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra reckons that opening batsman Mayank Agarwal has learned a lot from the New Zealand tour. Nehra feels the most difficult place to bat on the planet is New Zealand, as the pitches are conducive to seam bowling. There is a lot of movement on offer for the fast bowlers on the green decks, which makes it harder to succeed in New Zealand, especially as an opener.
Mayank Agarwal, who has had a perfect start to his Test career, scored 102 runs in the two-Test matches on the New Zealand tour. In fact, Agarwal was India’s highest run-getter in the Test series but he would have liked to do better than what he eventually did.
Mayank Agarwal has had a perfect start to his Test career
The right-hander also got a chance to open in the ODI matches as Rohit Sharma was injured before the series. The Karnataka batsman could not grab his chance in the 50-overs side as could score only 36 runs in three ODI matches against the Kiwis.
“It takes time and New Zealand is not an easy place. With my experience, for batters, the most difficult place on this planet when it comes to cricket-playing nations is New Zealand. New Zealand has always been tough, so Mayank Agarwal, I am sure he has learned a lot from the New Zealand tour. And it was not only for him, and for everyone, it was a challenge,” he said during an interaction on Star Sports’ Cricket Connected.
“He has shown promise, there is no doubt about it. And its early days in his career, you have to give everyone time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mayank was able to break into the side after impressive performances at the domestic circuit and for India A. The right-hander had scored a truckload of runs in the domestic competitions and kept knocking on the selections doors. Consequently, he was given his chance on the tour to Australia in 2018-19 and he scored 195 runs in two Test matches.
Agarwal also batted at the top of his game in the home season and scored 340 runs against South Africa in three Test matches. The right-hander has scored 974 runs in 11 Test matches at an impressive average of 57.13.
“He has done really well in domestic games and India-A and that’s how he got his chance. He is not somebody who has been playing domestic cricket for one or two years and suddenly he comes to the scene. He has scored a lot of runs and am sure with time he will get better and better,” he concluded.