Team India opener Mayank Agarwal has been the only brightest star in otherwise has been a poor effort from the batsmen in the first Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Agarwal will hope to keep up the excellent run and lead his side's batting when Virat Kohli & Co lock horns in the second and final Test.
The Karnataka batsman registered scores of 35 and 59 respectively, in his two innings in the first match. He will like to keep the momentum going to achieve a personal milestone as well as helping India crawl back in the series at the Hagley Oval in Wellington. Meanwhile, Mayank Agarwal, who has been in stellar form since his international debut will look to achieve a landmark when he comes out to bat in the second Test.
Read More: Ishant Sharma ruled out of the Christchurch Test
Mayank will surpass stalwarts such as Cheteshwar Pujara and Sunil Gavaskar, if he scores 36 runs in the next match, thereby becoming the second-fastest Indian player to 1000 runs in Test cricket. Former Indian great Vinod Kambli holds the record for being the fastest one, as he achieved the feat in just 14 innings.
On the other hand, Pujara and Gavaskar surpassed the 1000 runs record in their 18th and 21st Test innings respectively. If Agarwal manages to score 36 or more runs in the next Test vs New Zealand, the 29-year-old will surpass Pujara and Gavaskar, by achieving the feat in his 16th or 17th innings, depending on which inning he scores the required margin.
Meanwhile, India will be desperate to turn the table in the final tie of the tour at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch from February 29 (Saturday).
