India is one of the cricketing sides to be blessed with outstanding allrounders throughout the history of international cricket. One of the names in this elite list includes the former ace all-rounder Ajit Agarkar who had represented India in more than 200 international matches in all three formats of the game. He is the third-highest wicket-taker for India in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and has represented India in the 1999 Cricket World Cup and the 2007 World Cup and in many series during his tenure.
He made his international ODI debut against Australia in 1988 where he had a dream debut as he took the all-important wicket of the Australian Wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist. He went on with his impressive performance earning his first Man of the Match award in their match against New Zealand due to his amazing performance. He was expected to support the likes of Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, and Zaheer Khan thus strengthening the Indian bowling
His career was barred with injuries which played an important role in ensuring his temporary inclusion in the team. He was an important part of the hugely successful Indian team in 2002 and 2003 with Agarkar contributing some of the most memorable performances with the bat and the ball. During this period, he was also a member of the Indian team which finished in the runner-up spot in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
His other match-changing performances include some amazing batting overseas in Australia in the 2003 test series and even better bowling performance where he took an amazing 6/41 owing to which India won their first test in Australia after a whole of 20 years. Early in his career, Ajit achieved the rare feat when he broke Dennis Lillee’s world record for achieving the fastest 50 wickets in ODI cricket and that too in a mere 23 matches. He emerged as the best bowler in the one day series against West Indies in 2006 owing to some match-winning performances. His best bowling performances include 10/42 in tests and 6/41.
He was also a very handy batsman and John Wright used to send him up the order at times as a pinch hitter and he repaid his faith in him by displaying some amazing batting prowess and six-hitting capabilities. Some of his acclaimed knocks in ODIs are when he smacked the fastest 50 in 21 balls in 2000 against Zimbabwe and took 3 wickets as well in that match in the same match. once he was sent at number 3 against a formidable West Indian side and he took full toll of the opportunity and scored an amazing 92 and in the same year became one of the few batsmen to score a century at the Lord’s and that as a number 8 player thus proving his worth time and time again.
There’s also a funny and strange record he has under his belt when during India’s 1999-2000 tour of Australia, Agarkar set a record of seven consecutive innings resulting in ducks (four of the first ball), which earned him the nickname “Bombay Duck”. He has a relatively short figure as compared to his other fast bowling counterparts at that time but he could still bowl at speeds more than 90 mph owing to his athletic body and a good run-up speed. He has had a knack to bowl conventional swing at the start of the innings and reverse swing deliveries late in the game.
He was generally a wicket-taking bowler being the fastest (at the time) to 50 wickets. However, he was fairly expensive, with high economic rates. He was one of the talents the underrated one and a career that ended way too soon. He is currently the third-highest wicket-taker for India after Srinath and Kumble and has served stints as a player and coach in IPL teams like Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils. On 16 October 2013, Agarkar announced his retirement from all forms of cricket just before the start of the 2013–14 Ranji season.
