Mayank Agarwal

A prolific opener from Bangalore who modelled himself on Virender Sehwag, Mayank Agarwal long carried the reputation of a precocious stroke-maker before turning that promise into weight of runs.

He was India's top scorer in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, but for years after, his career was marked more by flashes than consistency. That changed in 2017-18, when Agarwal put together one of the greatest domestic seasons in Indian cricket. He scored 1160 runs in the Ranji Trophy - still Karnataka's highest in a single season - and followed it with a record-breaking Vijay Hazare campaign. Those achievements found him a place in the Test side at the end of 2018, where he impressed immediately with 76 and 42 on debut at the MCG, helping India secure a 2-1 lead that would culminate in their first series win in Australia. A year later he seemed to have secured a berth as India's first-choice opener, peeling off double-hundreds against South Africa and Bangladesh in back-to-back home series.

But his Test career soon came to mirror the volatility of his early years. A lean spell of ten innings without a fifty in 2020-21 saw him lose his place to the likes of Shubman Gill and later, Rohit Sharma. He broke that streak with a commanding hundred against New Zealand in Mumbai, followed by two 60s in a row, but another streak of eight low scores proved fatal and by 2023, Agarwal was out of the Test side.

In the IPL, ater unspectacular stints with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils, he blossomed at Kings XI Punjab, particularly in 2020 when he made over 400 runs at a strike rate of 156 and produced a memorable century against Rajasthan Royals. He breached 400 the following year too, but though he captained in 2022, the season was a struggle for him and the team, and when released ahead of the 2023 season, he moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

For Karnataka, whom he has captained, Agarwal remains a prolific, reliable figure. In Indian cricket more broadly, he has been the consummate professional: a player who fought his way back from the margins, made the most of his chances, and largely thrived when given the opportunity.