December 15, 2003:

Its been almost four years since the ignominy of registering 5 in 6 innings for Ajit Agarkar.

In the preceeding years, @imAagarkar had redeemed himself multiple times with the bat.

He had scored the fastest ODI 50 by an Indian and a Test 100 at Lord's

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But somehow the nightmares of that dreaded tour continued to be baggage for Agarkar. Cricket fans ridiculed him as "Bombay Duck"

#OnThisDay in 2003, Agarkar had his redemption courtesy his primary skill- bowling.

India had responded with 523 in response to Australia's 556.

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But with time running out, India needed an inspired bowling performance on a flat Adelaide track to have any chance of enforcing a result

Enter Ajit Agarkar.

Agarkar pinned Langer LBW with an in-swinger but the moment of the game really arrived when he had Punter caught...

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...at gully. Ponting was at the height of his powers back then. He had smashed a 200 in the 1st innings and would go on to do the same at the MCG.

With him out of the way for a , India sniffed an opening.

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Anil Kumble and SRT chipped in with crucial blows. SRT dismissed both Damien Martyn- thanks to a stunning one-handed catch by Rahul Dravid at 1st slip- and Steve Waugh while Kumble once again got the better of Gilly.

But with Simon Katich holding fort and Australia's lead..

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...crossing 200 with 4 wkts still in the bank, India needed another quick burst.

Enter Agarkar again.

The fast bowler dismissed Katich befote moppekng up the tail within a space of 13 runs, registering a match-winning maiden 6-for.

Agarkar's redemption was complete, and how!

@threader_app please compile this.