I need to respect game when I am batting well, says Mayank

The slump in form that he endured early in his career has taught Mayank Agarwal to make hay while the sun shines and he did exactly that against Bangladesh, smashing a career-best 243 on the second day of the first Test here on Friday.

For someone whose consistency was an issue some years ago, Agarwal has now scored two double hundreds in his last four Test appearances. And he wants to make every opportunity count till this kind of dream form lasts.

"I think it goes down to understanding that there had been times when I have not got runs. So I must respect the game that I am batting well. When I am doing that I have to make sure that I make it big and put the team in driver's seat or put it in such a position that they cannot lose from there," Agarwal said after the second day's play.

There are players on whom selectors would punt purely on talent and there are some like Agarwal, who had to break the door open with a mountain of runs.

Asked if it makes him more aware that he might always have to score more than say a Prithvi Shaw to be in the mix, Agarwal spoke about how "his journey is different from others."
"But that (chance) is not under our control and it is important to understand the things that are in my control and think I'm glad to play for the country and from there build on."
"It's a case of understanding, okay, this is the bowler I am playing well today and this is the ball that I can go after. Pick those balls and then have mental discipline to build your innings on that."
"The wicket has settled down compared to what it was yesterday. It got better to bat on as there is good bounce and good value for your shots."
"So I am glad and happy that it was missing stumps. At some point I thought, maybe it will be umpires call and I will be doomed."