Kings XI Punjab's (KXIP) batting mainstay Mayank Agarwal's gravity-defying leap to save a certain six of Mumbai Indians' Kieron Pollard in the second Super Over on Sunday was a result of several factors - "deliberate practice" to improve, having a personal dietician and trainer, turning vegetarian last year, and playing hand cricket as a youngster. And a big turnaround came after he was picked in the Indian team in late 2018.
Opening batsman Agarwal, 29, was always a swift, agile, and energetic fielder, but he fielded at close-in positions like silly point and forward short leg. But in the IPL he has been manning the outfield - long-off to long-on, and elsewhere - with aplomb. His improved fielding is due to years of practice that he has been putting in since his teenage years while representing Karnataka in age-group cricket.
And in the ongoing IPL he reached dizzying 'height' when he timed his leap almost perfectly at the Dubai International Stadium to deny Pollard a six - he conceded only two runs, saving four.
"I have observed that those who have played hand cricket are often good fielders. Mayank was always a brilliant catcher; he has taken some mind-blowing catches as a youngster. He was also swift in the field, and in the last few years he has undergone a lot of fitness training, and because of that, he has become a lot fitter now. He brings a lot of energy," the 50-year-old coach pointed out.
Muralidhar says that as a teenager Agarwal used to field close to the batsman - at silly point, slips, and forward short leg etc.
"Generally, all premier batsmen end up fielding in slips. He too fielded a lot in slips. But in the IPL he is fielding at different positions - anywhere from long-off to long-on, where he denied Pollard that six and conceded only two runs. When you are in a mood to contribute towards your team's cause this type of efforts happen. He is an outstanding team man," he emphasised.
Before KXIP's match against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday, Agarwal was the second top scorer of the ongoing IPL, having tallied 393 runs at a strike rate of 159.11 in nine matches. Only Rahul, with 525 runs, is ahead of him.
Off the field, Agarwal loves cooking and travelling. At least at the moment he is surely going places.
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