India batter Mayank Agarwal is paired up with KL Rahul for the opening spot in the ongoing Test series against South Africa. He and Rahul gave the visitors a terrific start in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.
The openers posted a partnership of 117 runs for the first wicket before Mayank got out after a score of 60 in 123 deliveries. He was looking good to get a big score before a delivery from Lungi Ngidi trapped him in front of the wickets in the 41st over.
The on-field umpire Marais Erasmus turned down the loud appeal from South Africans, but the Proteas skipper Dean Elgar was not convinced. He decided to challenge the decision and took a review.
The replays showed it was out as the ball was going on to hit the stumps and even the impact was in line which ended Mayank's 123-ball stay in the crease. Not everyone was convinced with the decision and there were debates over the dismissal as some felt the ball couldn't have been hitting the stumps.
However, the India opener avoided making any comments on the decision as he didn't want to be in the bad books. "I am not allowed to give my opinion and so I want to leave it at that. Otherwise, I will be in bad books and my money (match fee) could be docked," said Mayank during the presser.
India have started the first Test on a good note with 272/3 on the scoreboard. Mayank's opening partner, Rahul has scored a hundred and he's batting on 122* with Ajinkya Rahane, who is not out on 40 runs.
