New Delhi:
Mayank Agarwal blasted his second double century in Tests and put India in a commanding position on day 2 of the Indore Test against Bangladesh. Agarwal had earlier scored a double century during the Vizag Test in which he blasted 215 and shared a record 317-run stand with Rohit Sharma for the opening wicket. Agarwal was the pivot around which the entire innings revolved and his contributions enhanced his reputation.
After notching up a century in the second session, Agarwal was in fine form and he raised the gear to boost India's lead past 200. After reaching the milestone, the Karnataka right-hander punished anything that was short and he employed the late-cut to perfection. He found a perfect foil in Ajinkya Rahane as the duo stitched a partnership in excess of 150. Agarwal signalled his intentions with a six over long off of Taijul Islam but in the next over bowled by Mehidy Hasan, Agarwal launched a flighted delivery out of the ground.
Agarwal notched up his 150 with a pulled four off Taijul and continued to make smooth progress. Rahane fell for 82 as Abu Jayed took his fourth wicket and broke the partnership. The right-hander neared his 200 with a couple of fours off Ebadot Hossain and a six followed by a boundary off Mehidy Hasan. The Indian opener notched up his double ton by launching Mehidy over deep midwicket for a six.
On the second day, Pujara notched up his fifty by slamming two boundaries but fell for 54 as he edged to gully. India suffered a blow when Kohli was trapped LBW for a two-ball duck by Jayed but Agarwal continued on his merry ways. A flick to long leg and a pull to deep midwicket off Ebadot helped him reach fifty and he gained in confidence. Agarwal continued to punish anything that was short and he was given superb support by Ajinkya Rahane.
Agarwal took a liking to Mehidy Hasan's bowling as he hit him for a couple of boundaries and a six to help him near his ton. However, on 82, he had a massive scare as he missed a sweep and was hit on the pad. Umpire Marais Erasmus gave him out and he opted for the review. Replays showed no bat but the ball was missing leg stump and he batted cautiously as India neared the lunch break.
The Karnataka right-hander started off the post-lunch session in style by slamming Mehidy Hasan to the deep midwicket fence and he reached 99 by driving Ebadot Hossain straight down the ground to the long off fence. He notched up his century by tucking Ebadot to the on side for a couple and he raised his arms in jubilation.
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During the Vizag Test, Agarwal and Rohit punished the South Africans on a placid track and India looked set to amass a big total. However, at the stroke of lunch, Rohit fell for 176 and the opening partnership ended at 317. Rohit's first Test innings yielded 177 against West Indies in Kolkata in 2013 while his first Test innings as an opener yielded 176.
