Twitter feels KL Rahul's Test career is over as Mayank Agarwal shines on debut

Team India took a brave call to completely revamp their opening duo for the third and most important Test match of the series. The visitors handed over an international debut to Mayank Agarwal who came into the squad for Prithvi Shaw and promoted Hanuma Vihari, only 2 Tests old, to open the innings. This step was a forced one thanks to KL Rahul and Murali Vijay who didn’t do much in the four innings at the top of the order.

Mayank, however, grabbed his chance and rose to the occasion in front of close to 70,000 spectators at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 295th Test player for India showed nerves of steel and showed good technique against the new ball. He faced Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood with the new cherry and played some exquisite strokes.

The debutant went into the lunch unscathed and proved that he belongs at the highest level and went on to score a half-century as well.

End of the road for Rahul?

Mayank Agarwal continued to bat well in the post-lunch session and handled Nathan Lyon really well stepping out of his crease to him. He also smacked him for a six before going on to hit a couple of boundaries straight down the ground. Just when it looked like Agarwal will go past the three-figure mark on his debut, Pat Cummins got the better of him at the stroke of Tea.

Nevertheless, he scored 76 off 161 deliveries and justified his selection in the Test side. Immediate success for Mayank has put KL Rahul’s Test career in the doldrums now and it will be interesting to see if he is even retained in the squad now for the next Test series. Twitterati also contemplated over the same and trolled Rahul feeling that Agarwal should’ve replaced him long ago.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

KL Rahul can kiss his chances goodbye 👋He will not be missed in the Indian team

— DazzlingLikeSun (@DazzlingLikeSun) December 26, 2018

Mayank Agarwal should thank KL Rahul for his brilliant half century. Had KL played sensibly in past, Mayank wouldn't have been in team. The selfless player KL is (like Rohit), he didn't perform only to sacrifice his place for Mayank. Thank you @klrahul11.

— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) December 26, 2018

#MayankAgarwal seems the perfect substitute for KL Rahul & Vijay..runs he scored this innings are more than the runs scored by them in last two matches..😂😂#AUSvsIND #AUSvIND #INDvsAUS

— tarun bharadia (@TarunBharadia) December 26, 2018

Woke up in the morning feeling hungry, craving for roasted duck but sad that #KLRahul is not playing.. I can do with bread, well played #MayankAgarwal #AUSvIND #ChhodnaMat #SPNSports

— Saugat B Rudra (@saugat_tweets) December 26, 2018

KL Rahul promoted #Zero 😂😂
Mayank Agarwal promoted KGF 😍😁#AUSvIND

— B. Rohith Kumar (@rohithkumar_19) December 26, 2018

[Mayank Agarwal reaches dressing room]

Kohli: Well played
Rahane: Well played
Bumrah: Well played
KL Rahul: Well played. Ye le tere phone me Instagram download kiya hai mast app hai#AusvInd

— Jatin (@LogicalBakwaas) December 26, 2018

Let's take a moment to acknowledge Virat Kohli here , he could have kept KL Rahul in the side to promote his wife's movie but instead he replaced him with Mayank Agarwal who scored 76.

Seflessness level : Kohli #BoxingDayTest #AusvInd

— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) December 26, 2018

Agrawal after scoring his 50
"BETA TUMSE NA HO PAYEGA"#klrahul #MayankAgarwal #AUSvIND #INDvAUS #BCCI pic.twitter.com/e0yqT2w3WW

— Nitin (@gnitin4450) December 26, 2018

Meanwhile KL Rahul to Mayank Agarwal after he scored 76 run pic.twitter.com/PBb7g7Ky4e

— Avinash Bansal (@caisdream) December 26, 2018

#INDvAUS#MayankAgarwal to KL Rahul & M Vijay after making 76 – pic.twitter.com/jwtwn6khWW

— RAHUL TYAGI🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@rahulastic) December 26, 2018

How kL Rahul & Murli Vijay are watching Mayank Agarwal's batting😀#AUSvIND #BoxingDayTest #Melbourne pic.twitter.com/NmsOZ6JTgr

— lalit bhandari (@lalitbhandari31) December 26, 2018

Being A SRK Fan, I Genuinely Think KL Rahul's #Zero Was Consistent Than SRK's #Zero . You'll Be Missed Rahul. Happy Retirement.#AusvInd #BoxingDayTest

— theAsiftheShaikh (@asif043coolguy) December 26, 2018

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