Being part of winning side is privilege: Mayank Agarwal

Visakhapatnam: After scoring his maiden double ton in the Test format, India opening batsman Mayank Agarwal on Thursday said that he is extremely happy to contribute to the team and added that being part of a winning outfit is a privilege.
His remarks came after the close of play on day two of the first Test match between India and South Africa. India declared their innings at 502/7, owing to Agarwal’s knock of 215 runs and in response, South Africa ended the day at 39/3.
“I am extremely happy that I was able to contribute to the team. Being part of a side that is winning matches and tournaments is a privilege and I am happy to be part of the squad. Having crossed the milestone of 100, eased my nerves and being out there for a long time in the middle gave me confidence,” Agarwal told reporters.
“I was determined to put away the loose balls. You cannot think about what will happen if you don’t score runs, you just have to be clear in your thought process. As an opening batsman, you have to set the tone for your team,” he added.
Agarwal also gave insights on how he used to prepare when he was not a part of the Indian squad.
“You have to make little adjustments when you play in different conditions. For me, long-distance running has helped me. When I was training, I made sure that I bat five-to-six hours. Preparing for long hours has helped me in improving my game,” Agarwal said.