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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 advantage o🐼f the opportunity given.
Mayank reached to his maiden IPL century off just 45 balls. He smashed RR bowlers all aro𒆙und the park. The right-handed batsman became 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 over 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:
What a knock f🔯rom .. Have always liked this kid.
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
bhai bhai 🔥
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
Ki꧋ngs are playing 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, firs⛦t IPL 💯 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 conditions, superb century 👏👏
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Both KL and Mayank have looked in total control 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! ꦇEntertainment at its best
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth)
WOW! First IPL century for and also the first IPL century aওt Sharjah an꧙d 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 wondering what a safe total is batting first��🤭🤭.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
A 45 ball 10💜0 for Mayank. To back up what he did in the first game. Love his composure and hunger to keep piling on t🔜he runs.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
From being a T20 dasher to becoming a quality test opener to scoring a very claไssy T20 century, is showing us such a delightful range to his batting.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Great going . What a 💯🍌. MR Aggarwal in the house !!
— MithunManhas5 (@MithunManhas)
The opening stand of 183 runs between R🍷ahul and 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)
