Mayank Agarwal chooses a unique method to prepare for the first Test against New Zealand

Opener Mayank Agarwal has had a poor outing in New Zealand, as he made a pair for India A in the unofficial Test match. He made his ODI debut and after a decent 30 odd runs in the first outing, he got out for single-digit scores in the next two matches and his form has become a big worry for the team management with the two-match Test series beginning from February 21.

Mayank will be one of the openers in the match, as Rohit Sharma had to return back to India after suffering a serious injury in his right calf during the fifth T20I match and didn’t play in the ODIs as well, leading to Mayank and Prithvi Shaw making their debuts. However, the focus as the Test series looms is on Mayank, who again got out for one run in the practice game against New Zealand XI at Hamilton.

It seems that even the Karnataka lad is aware of the issues he has been facing and decided to test out a new and seemingly bizarre practice drill along with Indian trainer in nets to get over his shortcomings. Agarwal was dismissed in one fashion in ODIs, trying to fend deliveries outside off stump on his back foot and the New Zealand bowlers are smart enough to test him with similar deliveries.

Mayank Agarwal practices with underarm deliveries bowled at him

ESPNCricinfo posted a video on their Instagram account recently, which showed Mayank testing off a new batting drill. He was being thrown balls underarm without any bounce or speed to the ball, to which, Agarwal was seen driving the balls down the ground. This led to everyone speculating what this new style of batting will result in the Test matches.

ESPNCricinfo shared the video with the caption reading, “Is Mayank expecting the ball to keep low? What’s he trying to work on here? #NZvIND”

View this post on Instagram

Is Mayank expecting the ball to keep low? What's he trying to work on here? #NZvIND

A post shared by ESPN Cricinfo (@espncricinfo) on Feb 14, 2020 at 2:30am PST

This new drill might have stemmed from his failure in the ongoing practice match against New Zealand XI. Agarwal was once against found wanting outside the off stump. Scott Kuggeleijn, then, bowled one back of a length on fifth stump and Agarwal could only manage an edge to it.

The Karnataka lad had a great start to his career with 76 on debut at the MCG in the Boxing Day Test. Since then he has scored a century and a double ton against South Africa and Bangladesh at home and would love to continue making runs to keep his place cemented in the Indian team.