Mayank Agarwal scored a century in the Deodhar Trophy for India C. Photo: BCCI

Mayank Agarwal is in prime form at the moment. Batting for India C against India A in the Deodhar Trophy match at Ranchi on Friday morning, the 28-year-old scored a swashbuckling 120 off just 111 balls, an innings that was studded with 15 fours and a six.

Opening the innings alongside India C captain, Shubman Gill, Agarwal took strike and scored his first boundary in the first over off Jaydev Unadkat, glancing a length ball to the fine leg boundary.

After a quiet couple of overs, he let loose, scoring a boundary almost every over and brought up his half-century in just 48 balls, off yet another strike to the ropes. The duo kept milking the bowlers and brought up their hundred-run stand in the 18th over.

There was no stopping Agarwal, a Kings XI Punjab batsman in VIVO Indian Premier League, after his fifty as he continued on his merry ways as he eventually brought up his century, reaching the milestone with consecutive boundaries off Unadkat off 96 balls.

Agarwal, who recently steered Karnataka to lift the Vijay Hazare Trophy, eventually fell for 120 when he tried to loft Hanuma Vihari down the ground but was caught at long-on. By the time he made his exit, he had put on a massive 226-run stand with Gill in just 38-odd overs, providing India C with a solid platform.

Since his double century in the first Test against South Africa early last month, Agarwal has scored 576 runs since then in all forms of cricket at an average of 115.20. These included his second ton against the Proteas and two timely fifties in the Vijay Hazare.

Gill complimented Mayank well with a century of his own (143) and a late innings blitzkrieg from Suryakumar Yadav (72* off 29 balls) ensured India C finished on a massive 366-3 in their 50 overs, further denting India A's confidence, who suffered a heavy defeat against India B the day before.