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Ajit Agarkar turns 43.
He was an excellent ODI bowler with a couple of highs in Test cricket.
However, he used to be criticised, even ridiculed, by Indian fans throughout his career.
This has often confused me. I shall try to explain why.
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He was an excellent ODI bowler with a couple of highs in Test cricket.
However, he used to be criticised, even ridiculed, by Indian fans throughout his career.
This has often confused me. I shall try to explain why.
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Agarkar has the third-most ODI wickets (288) among Indians.
He is still the fastest Indian to 50, 150, 200, and 250 ODI wickets (but not 100).
Put a 150-wicket cut-off, and his strike rate of 32.9 is the best among Indians.
Yes, Agarkar was expensive. He went for runs.
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He is still the fastest Indian to 50, 150, 200, and 250 ODI wickets (but not 100).
Put a 150-wicket cut-off, and his strike rate of 32.9 is the best among Indians.
Yes, Agarkar was expensive. He went for runs.
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But the same fans criticise Jadeja ("he can bowl economically, but can he takes wickets?").
But let us return to Agarkar, who bowled arguably the greatest overseas spell by an Indian.
Australia had scored 556 at Adelaide and India 523.
It was a flat wicket.
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But let us return to Agarkar, who bowled arguably the greatest overseas spell by an Indian.
Australia had scored 556 at Adelaide and India 523.
It was a flat wicket.
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There had already been two double hundreds and a 148.
Agarkar took 6/41.
India won the Test against all odds.
It was the first time India took lead in a Test series in Australia.
But his photograph is seldom shared when Indian fans celebrate the anniversary every year.
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Agarkar took 6/41.
India won the Test against all odds.
It was the first time India took lead in a Test series in Australia.
But his photograph is seldom shared when Indian fans celebrate the anniversary every year.
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Later on that tour, Agarkar became the second Indian bowler (after Kumble) to take a six-wicket haul in both Tests and ODIs.
They remain the only ones (Chahal has done this in ODIs and T20Is).
And then, the Lord's hundred of 2002.
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They remain the only ones (Chahal has done this in ODIs and T20Is).
And then, the Lord's hundred of 2002.
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Coming out at 170/6, Agarkar scored 109 not out. India got to 397.
This was the first Test hundred by anyone in Test history batting at 8 or below in a chase away from home (there have been only two more).
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This was the first Test hundred by anyone in Test history batting at 8 or below in a chase away from home (there have been only two more).
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This was one of the greatest fourth-innings shows by an Indian batsman, especially overseas.
But it is not a respected hundred.
The feat is acknowledged (there is little alternative), but only grudgingly.
In 2000-01, Agarkar scored the fastest ODI fifty by an Indian.
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But it is not a respected hundred.
The feat is acknowledged (there is little alternative), but only grudgingly.
In 2000-01, Agarkar scored the fastest ODI fifty by an Indian.
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Despite smaller grounds, superior bats, power-hitting, the record stays.
He was not a great batsman. But he was better than he usually gets credit for.
And he has some batting records that stay.
He was not a great batsman. But he was better than he usually gets credit for.
And he has some batting records that stay.
