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In the ninth game of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP skipper KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal gave KXIP a flying start in Sharjah.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bowl first, but KXIP opening pair took full adv𒈔antage of the opportunity given.
Mayank reached to his maiden IPL century off just 45 balls. He smashed RR bowlers all around the park. The right-handed batsman bec⛎ame the second-fastest IPL centurion for India in terms of ball taken.
Fastest centuries by Indian players in IPL (balls taken):
- 37 – Yusuf Pathan v MI Mumbai BS 2010
- 45 – Mayank Agarwal v RR Sharjah 2020*
- 46 – Murali Vijay v RR Chennai 2010
- 47 – Virat Kohli v KXIP Bengaluru 2016
- 48 – Virender Sehwag v Deccan Hyderabad 2011
Rahul, on the other hand, played the role of a supporter. Both the players hit a flurry of fours and sixes to take Punjab ove♏r 100 inside nine overs.
Not only this, the Karnataka duo managed to post the highest score in the powerplay overs at the ongoing IPL. They scored 60/0 in the first six overs of the match.
Mayank and Rahul added 183 runs for the first wicket from just 100 deliveries before Tom Curran dismissed Agarwal for 106. The 29-year-old smashed 17 boundaries including seven towering sixes. He scored runs at a blistering strike-rate of 212.
Rahul scored 69 runs from 54 deliveries with seven fours and one six before spinner Shreyas Gopal outfoxed him.
Nicholas Pooran (25 off 8 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (13 off 9 balls) added an unbeaten 29 run-partnership for the third wicket in the last few overs to take their team’s total to 223/2.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
What𝓡 a knock from .. Have always liked this kid.
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
bhai bhai 🔥
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
Kings are pla෴ying like Asli Singh’s @lionsdenkxip what a knock ✊
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Talk about taking your batting to the next level…Wow!
Mayank Agarwal 👏👏👏👏— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar)
Epitome of commitment, passion and dedication.
Take a bow, 👏👏
— Rajal Arora (@RajalArora)
Take a bow Mayank, brilliant batting, first IPL 💯𓆏 many more to come ���෴� @lionsdenkxip
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
i find classy in whatever he does with the bat, in whichever format. Even allowing for batsmen♉ friendly condition🌠s, superb century 👏👏
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Both KL and Mayank have looked in total conജtrol and have made UAE their home ground(s)!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Am I witnessing an IPL match or a gully cricket match?Unbelievable batting by and @klrahul11!🤡 Entertainment at its best
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth)
WOW! First IPL century for and also the first IPL century at Sharjah and second-fastest by ♉an Indian!
— Moulin (@Moulinparikh)
Fastest centuries in IPL by Indians – by balls:
37 : Yusuf Pathan v MI, Mumbai, 2010
45 : Mayank Agarwal v RR, Sharjah, 2020*
46 : Murali Vijay v RR, Chennai, 2010— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman)
I feel sorry for bowlers tonight in Sharjah. But what a high quality innings by Mayank Agarwal. I am still wonde🍰ring what a safe total is batting first🤭🤭🤭.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
A 45 ball 100 for Mayank. To back up what he did in the first game. Love his composure and hunger 💎to keep piling on the runs.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
From being a T20 dasher to becoming 🏅a quality test opener to scoring a very classy T20 century, is showing us such a delightful range to his batting.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Great going . What a 💯. MR Aggarwal in 🧸the house !!
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas)
The opening stand of 183 runs between Rahul an🔯d Mayank today ♔is..
– Third highest opening stand in IPL
– Second highest for KXIP for any wicket in IPL
– Highest v RR for any wicket in IPL— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman)
Kamaal kar ditta! 🙌🏻
His first 💯 and in what fashion! 🤩
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL)
