Over the previous four years, a particular photograph showing a few of Team India players has consistently resurfaced on the internet, creating mystery among fans regarding the identity of the person with their hand on Rishabh Pant’s shoulder. Finally, Mayank Agarwal, who is also captured in the shot, has finally revealed the person.
Back in 2019, during India’s cricket tour in England for the World Cup, a photograph featuring cricket stars MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya stirred up quite a buzz on the internet. It’s customary for players to snap pictures and share them on Instagram, but this particular photo had an intriguing mystery that lingered unresolved for nearly four years. Originally shared on Hardik’s social media with the simple caption ‘Boys day out,’ the image showcased all five cricketers in high spirits. What really piqued fans’ curiosity was the hand casually resting on Pant’s shoulder.
The photo rapidly gained widespread attention online, with everyone wondering, ‘Whose hand is that on Pant’s shoulder?’ Dhoni’s hands were clearly visible, and Bumrah’s left hand was resting on MSD’s shoulders. Nonetheless, the enigma persisted: Whose hand was it, indeed, that found its place on Pant’s shoulder?
On September 28, 2023, Mayank Agarwal himself finally resolved the mystery by posting on his ‘X’ handle to put an end to the suspense. “After years of extensive research, debates, and countless conspiracy theories, let the nation finally know: it is my hand on @RishabhPant17 shoulder. Any and all other claims are misleading and not true,” Agarwal wrote.
Agarwal has set his sights on making a comeback to the national team. His latest appearance was in the Maharaja T20 Trophy held in Bangalore, where he impressed by scoring a century. However, Agarwal’s last Test match for India was back in March 2022, and he has not been part of the squad since then. This absence from the team came about as young talented Shubman Gill took on the role of Rohit Sharma’s opening partner and kept scoring consistent runs through his bat as an opening batsman. Currently, Gill is a part of the Indian World Cup squad and will be eying for a great World Cup campaign.
