Indian batter Mayank Agarwal, who has been out of the national Test squad for the past three years, is set to make his county cricket debut in England. The Karnataka opener will join Yorkshire and is expected to feature in their match against Somerset from September 8 at Taunton.
Agarwal will play a total of three matches for Yorkshire before returning to India, where he will lead Karnataka in the upcoming 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season. This will be his first-ever stint in the County Championship, giving him a chance to test himself in challenging English conditions.
Eyeing a Comeback to Team India
The 33-year-old batter is hopeful that consistent performances in England could help him return to the Indian Test squad. Agarwal made a sensational start to his Test career, scoring centuries in his early matches and cementing himself as a key opener. However, injuries and loss of form saw his career derail, and he has not featured for India in the past three years.
Despite setbacks, Agarwal has delivered strong performances in domestic cricket, keeping his comeback hopes alive. With India’s No.3 spot currently vacant in the Test team, Agarwal has set his sights on reclaiming a place in the squad.
Last Test Appearance in 2022
Agarwal last played for India in February 2022 against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, which was his 21st Test match. Earlier, during the 2021–22 England tour, he was set to open the innings but was ruled out of the first Test due to an injury in practice. Since then, he has not been able to break back into the squad, featuring only in the IPL and domestic cricket.
Career Highlights
Between 2018 and 2022, Agarwal was a regular in India’s Test setup, amassing 1,488 runs in 21 Tests at an average of 41.33. His record includes four centuries, two of which were double hundreds. His career-best score of 243 came against Bangladesh.
