IND vs ENG 2nd Test – Mayank Agarwal Recovers: Good news for Team India, Mayank Agarwal recovers from concussion, resumes batting drills: After the laments of being robbed of a winning chance in the first Test against England, some pleasant news has arrived in the Indian camp. India’s batting mainstay Mayank Agarwal resumed his batting drills in the nets ahead of the second contest against Joe Root led England at Lord’s. Agrawal had earlier suffered a head injury (concussion) during the net practice ahead of the first Test at Trent Bridge.
Mayank Agarwal is back in the nets 🙌 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/uchJHhy3oc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 10, 2021
IND vs ENG 2nd Test – Mayank Agarwal Recovers: In the small clip, the 30-year old was seen smashing two solid shots through the covers as he undertook his training session. It would be Agarwal’s first chance to play on England soil if he gets an opportunity to don India’s jersey in the whites in the remaining four Test matches.
IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Who would Agarwal replace?
IND vs ENG 2nd Test – Mayank Agarwal Recovers: It aches to see such a fine player warming the benches but as its stands- India’s batting unit is full of competent players, offering little room for Agarwal to fit in. The opening pair conundrum between him and KL Rahul has been sorted in the latter’s favor after he mustered 110 runs in the two innings of the opening Test and even smashed a crucial fifty in India’s first innings.
Further, with captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s berth already settled, Agrawal can fairly replace Cheteshwar Pujara. This leaves the question lingering that Agrawal has zilch experience walking the crucial number three position especially in Tests.
Also read: IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Will Indian batsmen fire at Lord’s where Virat Kohli & Co always struggled?
IND vs ENG 2nd Test: Can Agarwal fit at No 5?
IND vs ENG 2nd Test – Mayank Agarwal Recovers: The right-handed batsman might fare out his place at number 5, which he has already shown in one-off innings one point in the past. By axing Cheteshwar Pujara, who has always had a tough time facing the swing conditions especially in England, Kohli and Rahane could be promoted to the higher batting position, leaving the number 5 spot open for Agrawal.
Agarwal has taken the stand on number 5 in only one innings and has fared out reasonably well with 38 runs alongside a strike rate of 50.
The 30-year old can surely be given the opening spot (avg- 43.83) but demoting KL Rahul to number three would be unwise as the latter has averaged just 17.60 in the five innings he has played at the spot for India.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has shown his full support to Pujara. ‘’Cheteshwar Pujara doesn’t care about criticism. He and we all know where to improve our game,” he said.
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