IPL 2021, DC vs PBKS: Despite a crushing six-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings opener Mayank Agarwal is a happy man. After a string of poor performances, Mayank finally hit the top form, scoring 69 off 36 balls at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. While it was in a losing cause, his return to form was crucial for both KL Rahul’s Punjab Kings and him. Mayank said not worrying about the previous innings helped him do well on Sunday. However, despite Mayank’s knock, Shikhar Dhawan’s 92 off 49 helped DC chase the 196-run target with 10 balls to spare.
“I wasn’t thinking too much. I just planned to keep a mindset that worked for me last year. I thought in the last match, I got a good ball. I didn’t want to stress too much about it and wanted to look forward. So, I just went out there and stuck to what worked for me,” Mayank Agarwal said at the post-match press conference.
IPL 2021, DC vs PBKS: Mayank Agarwal finally gets into rhythm:
Considering Mayank Agarwal started IPL 2020 in style hitting 89 off 60 and followed it up with a 106-run knock off 50 balls, it is difficult to imagine that he hit a rough patch. But it all started against Mumbai Indians against who he scored just 11 off 10 balls in IPL 2020. His following scores were not up to his standards.
While he was picked for India’s team for the Australia series, Mayank Agarwal had a poor run, scoring 22 and 28 in the two ODIs that he played in. In the Test series, he scored 17, 9, 0, 5, 38 and 9 in the three matches that he played in. The only time Mayank scored a half-century was in the practice match.
Mayank Agarwal’s last few knocks:
| MATCH | BAT | DATE | GROUND | FORMAT |
| Punjab Kings vs Capitals | 69 | 18-Apr-21 | Mumbai | T20 |
| Punjab Kings vs Super Kings | 0 | 16-Apr-21 | Mumbai | T20 |
| Punjab Kings vs Royals | 14 | 12-Apr-21 | Mumbai | T20 |
| India vs Australia | 38 & 9 | 15-Jan-21 | Brisbane | Test |
| India vs Australia | 0 & 5 | 26-Dec-20 | Melbourne | Test |
| India vs Australia | 17 & 9 | 17-Dec-20 | Adelaide | Test |
| Indians vs Australia A | 2 & 61 | 11-Dec-20 | Sydney | FC |
| India vs Australia | 28 | 29-Nov-20 | Sydney | ODI |
| India vs Australia | 22 | 27-Nov-20 | Sydney | ODI |
| Kings XI vs Super Kings | 26 | 01-Nov-20 | Abu Dhabi | T20 |
His disappointing runs led Team India to drop him in favour of Shubman Gill. In the series against England, while he was in the squad, he didn’t get a chance to play. Mayank Agarwal was promptly dropped from the ODI squad.
In IPL 2021, Mayank Agarwal was off to a rocky start again, scoring 14 and 0 in the first two matches. But on Sunday, he was determined to do well. From the word go, he took the likes of Chris Woakes, Lukman Meriwala, and Kagiso Rabada. Mayank said that despite the string of poor scores, the coaches at Punjab Kings — Washim Jaffer and Anil Kumble — were happy with his approach. It was just a matter of time for him to get going again.
“Well, it wasn’t too much (discussion with coaches). I was batting well in the nets and I was getting into good positions. It was just about holding shape and getting into good positions and doing the things that are working for me. Now, I would say that I got a good ball last game. I don’t want to stress too much about it, and don’t want to live in the previous games. I’m happy with the way I’m batting. And I thought, I batted it well,” Mayank Agarwal said.
IPL 2021, DC vs PBKS: Punjab Kings fail to defend 195 total:
As for the match, although the Wankhede pitch was batting-friendly, it was a disappointing show from Punjab bowlers. An experienced Mohammed Shami went for 53 runs from his 4 overs while Riley Meredith conceded 35 runs in 2.2 overs. Jhye Richardson went for 41 runs in exchange for two wickets as Sikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw set the stage alight. In the end a late cameo from Marcus Stoinis who scored 27 off 13 helped Delhi Capitals chase the target easily.
Mayank said batting became easier in the 2nd innings and the dew factor also did not favour their bowlers. With the wet ball, bowling with line and length became a difficult task.
“I thought it was a good total. It wasn’t as easy in the first innings. And, I think dew did play a factor coming into the second innings. It’s nature and we can’t do much about it as players, but I think, it just boils down to execution under pressure and also just practising that as much as you can do as a player. And those are the things that are in our control. Obviously, we can’t do much apart from that,” Mayank said.
Mayank credited Delhi Capitals’ batting and bowling in the last few overs besides batsman and Shikhar Dhawan.
“It wasn’t as easy as it looked in the second innings. I thought Delhi Capitals batted exceedingly well. And also, there was the dew factor. Credit to the Delhi bowlers how they executed after the 12 overs. That’s what we recognize that they went to death bowling executed the next eight over beautifully. Credit to them for that,” Mayank signed off.
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