Mayank Agarwal enjoying renaissance in Yorkshire as he gets a perfect tune-up for the upcoming Ranji season.
For some time now, Mayank Agarwal has been vying for a spot in the County Championship. However, he didn’t anticipate being on a flight to the UK that same week when he received a call from Yorkshire in late August—”30th, or maybe it was the 31st,” he adds, unable to remember. Agarwal, who is presently getting ready to captain Karnataka as they kick off their 2025–26 Ranji Trophy campaign against Saurashtra on Wednesday, could have found the unexpected call strangely familiar.
Agarwal scored 201 runs for Yorkshire in five innings. His game-winning 175 against Durham in the last innings, which helped Yorkshire steer clear of danger in Division One of the championships, was the high point. It compensated for his first three innings’ two ducks.
“I’d been trying for a county stint for three or four years. A couple of years ago, Surrey had called, but the Duleep Trophy came in the way,” he said on Tuesday. “This time it was sudden, but I didn’t think twice. I’m glad I went. It was a lot of fun, and a very valuable experience.”
“Getting runs in England felt great; it gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “The conditions and the way the game is approached are different – [like] the points system, [and] the tempo of play. I found that very refreshing. As an opening batter in England, it’s not the easiest place to play. You’ll get out early sometimes. You just have to make peace with it and move on. When I got in [against Durham], I made it big. That’s what mattered.”
Agarwal’s career has been somewhat plagued by these unexpected calls, such as in December 2018 when the Indian team management sought a replacement for Prithvi Shaw due to injury. As India triumphed by 137 runs in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Agarwal made his debut with a calm 76 after just getting off a plane.
When Andy Flower and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team management needed to sign a late substitute for the injured Devdutt Padikkal near the close of the league stages of the 2025 Indian Premier League, Agarwal was in Oman earlier this year.
“That’s how it’s been for me in this sport – getting a sudden call, having to perform right away,” Agarwal said. “I’m proud that I’ve always been ready, and made an impact whenever those chances have come.”
Now, as he begins another Ranji season – his third as captain – the butterflies are still there.
“I’m as excited as I was in my first season,” he said. “We’ve prepared well – played the Thimmappiah Trophy, and had a good camp leading into the season.”