India opener Mayank Agarwal revealed the batting advice he got from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar before hitting 120 not out against New Zealand on Day 1 of the second and final Test in Mumbai on Friday.

India rode on Mayank Agarwal’s stroke-filled 120 not out to reach 221 for 4 at stumps after electing to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mayank, who came into the playing XI after KL Rahul’s injury ruled him out of the series, scored just 13 and 17 runs in the first Test but roared back to form in the second and hit his fourth Test hundred to rescue the team from troubled waters.

IND vs NZ, 2nd TEST: Day 1 Highlights | Report

And it was none other than Sunil Gavaskar, who went up to the 30-year-old and told him to “try something” before the match. Mayank later revealed the exact suggestion he got from the former India captain.

“Sunny sir told me that it would be better if I keep the bat down instead of picking it too high early on (in the innings). I couldn’t really make that adjustment in the short period.

“But while he was telling me that, I could see his position, which was side on. So, being side on was something I picked up from that conversation,” Agarwal said after the day’s play.

The 30-year also said that he made a conscious decision to attack New Zealand off-spinner Ajaz Patel, who grabbed all 4 wickets in his hometown at the Wankhede Stadium.

“It was a plan (to attack Ajaz) because I thought he bowled exceedingly well today… kept bowling in a cluster and kept putting pressure. So anything that was there in our half, the plan was to be attacking. Anything that came little towards us in length, I was definitely looking to go. Because he is somebody who is really, really consistent.”

Agarwal said sticking to the team’s plan paid off for him even though the others struggled around him. Shubmann Gill (44) and Wriddhiman Saha (25 not out) were the only two crucial contributors along with Agarwal while Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara got out for ducks in Patel’s over.

“This innings was more about grit and determination. Sticking to our plan, just having the mental discipline to be at the plan, to be at it. I know there were times that I didn’t look good, but it didn’t make much of a difference as long as the job was getting done,” Agarwal said.