Indian skipper Virat Kohli revealed why he picked Mayank Agarwal to open for India in the middle of the Australia tour in the 2018/19 campaign, the result of which has still bee impressive.

Mayank was not even India's first pick for the opening slot. Having impressed the selectors in his debut appearance at home Prithvi Shaw was a certainty for the role alongside KL Rahul and Murali Vijay. But during the practice game Down Under, Shaw injured himself and Mayank was called as his replacement. And after both Vijay and Rahul failed to impress, Mayank was given the opportunity, with his debut happening in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
He opened alongside Hanuma Vihari, scored a gritty 76 to give India a strong start which eventually played a pivotal role in their 137-run win. Mayank has since scored 974 runs for India as a Test opener at 57.29 in 11 matches with two double centuries, a century and four fifties.

Kohli, in conversation with Mayank, on bcci.tv, admitted that it was his batting approach that made him a suitable option for the opener's role rather than his domestic run tally that season.

“For me, the biggest marker is how a person approaches playing the game,” Kohli said. “So, for example, when you opened and we made Vihari open with you. We had seen Viahri the way he played, he would come towards the ball, he was brave, he was sure of himself.