Mayank Agarwal: 1,000 runs in 27 days
What's the story
Remember the month of November for Mayank Agarwal who scored over a 1000 runs this month. The Karnataka opener is in red hot form scoring at will, in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. In fact, it's taken the 26-year-old just 27 days to amass 1,000 runs. Strange as it sounds, the likes of Sir Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar could not achieve this feat.
Purple patch
Equals 90-year-old record
Mayank Agarwal's mammoth 1,033 runs might have equalled a 90-year-old record of scoring more than 1,000 runs in one month. The only other instance that has been recorded so far was in December 1927, when Australian cricketer Bill Ponsford scored a staggering 1,146 runs in five innings. His scores were 133, 437, 202, 38 and 336.
Red-hot
A triple hundred and four tons
Mayank's purple patch began on the 1st of November this year when he scored an unbeaten 304 against Maharashtra at Pune. Since then he has gone on to score 176, 23, 90, 133*, 173 and 104*, a Ranji trophy record. And, he might be not done yet. Before this season, Mayank had just two tons to his name in 29 first class games.
Turnaround
Change of fortune
He started the season poorly with 31 and a pair in the first two games. But batting-heavy Karnataka persisted with him and he repaid their faith. Now he might be on course to break VVS Laxman's record long standing most runs in a Ranji Trophy season. He needs 382 runs in two innings and if Karnataka reach the finals, then in 8 innings.
India call up?
What next for the record breaking batsman?
Mayank Agarwal is not just a talented batsman in the long format of the game, he has also had decent stint in the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiant. He was the part of the India Under-19 World Cup team in 2010. He has also been a regular member of India A side, coached by Rahul Dravid.