Ajit Agarkar
- Date of Birth 1977-12-4
- Role bowler
- Batting Style right-hand bat
- Bowling Style right-arm fast
Debut Matches
| Format | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|
| TEST | ZIM vs IND | 1998-10-07 |
| ODI | IND vs AUS | 1998-04-01 |
| T20 | SA vs IND | 2006-12-01 |
| vs | 1970-01-01 |
Recent Performances
Batting Statistics
Matches
26
Innings
39
Runs
571
Average
16.79
Strike Rate
52.82
Highest Score
109*
100s
1
50s
0
Fours
83
Sixes
3
Catches
6
Bowling Statistics
Matches
26
Innings
46
Wickets
58
Average
47.32
Economy
3.39
Strike Rate
83.7
Best Figure
6/41
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
1
Balls Bowled
4857
Runs Conceded
2745
Batting Statistics
Matches
191
Innings
113
Runs
1269
Average
14.58
Strike Rate
80.62
Highest Score
95
100s
0
50s
3
Fours
103
Sixes
22
Catches
52
Bowling Statistics
Matches
191
Innings
188
Wickets
288
Average
27.85
Economy
5.07
Strike Rate
32.9
Best Figure
6/42
4 Wickets
10
5 Wickets
2
Balls Bowled
9484
Runs Conceded
8021
Batting Statistics
Matches
4
Innings
2
Runs
15
Average
7.5
Strike Rate
136.36
Highest Score
14
100s
0
50s
0
Fours
2
Sixes
0
Catches
0
Bowling Statistics
Matches
4
Innings
3
Wickets
3
Average
28.33
Economy
8.09
Strike Rate
21
Best Figure
2/10
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
63
Runs Conceded
85
Batting Statistics
Matches
270
Innings
173
Runs
2275
Average
17.5
Strike Rate
Highest Score
95
100s
0
50s
8
Fours
Sixes
Catches
69
Bowling Statistics
Matches
270
Innings
Wickets
420
Average
26.16
Economy
4.94
Strike Rate
31.7
Best Figure
6/18
4 Wickets
11
5 Wickets
3
Balls Bowled
13322
Runs Conceded
10990
Batting Statistics
Matches
62
Innings
35
Runs
286
Average
14.3
Strike Rate
125.43
Highest Score
39
100s
0
50s
0
Fours
23
Sixes
8
Catches
10
Bowling Statistics
Matches
62
Innings
60
Wickets
47
Average
34.21
Economy
8.23
Strike Rate
24.9
Best Figure
3/25
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
1172
Runs Conceded
1608
Slight, fiery and gifted, Ajit Agarkar never came to terms with being seen as a match-winner with bat and ball for India in the Kapil Dev mould. The ingredients were there, and in the right proportions, but they never formed a long-lasting mix.
Agarkar's entry into international cricket - with an avalanche of wickets that made him the fastest to 50 in ODIs at the time - was matched for precocity only by an astonishing batting slump during which he collected seven consecutive Test ducks against Australia. But he could bat, because tailenders do not score half-centuries in 21 balls, as Agarkar did in a one-day game against Zimbabwe, or make Test hundreds at Lord's, as he did in some style in 2002. His best performance - and only Test five-for - came in a famous win for India, a match haul of 8 for 160 in Adelaide in 2003-04.
His aggression was an asset, but his body could not sometimes support it. He turned into a one-day specialist, and was arguably India's most effective ODI bowler in 2005-06, but a disappointing World Cup campaign in 2007 resulted in him being dropped for the Bangladesh series that followed, and though he made it to the ODI squad that toured England in the summer of 2007, that was his last international outing.
He remained a domestic force to be reckoned with, though, as his five-wicket haul in one of the most thrilling Ranji Trophy finals, in Mysore in 2010 attested. He took 5 for 81 as Karnataka, chasing a target of 338, were bowled out for 331 in the post-lunch session of the fourth day's play. Agarkar captained Mumbai in the 2012-13 season, leading them to their 40th Ranji Trophy title, and announced his retirement from all cricket before the start of the following domestic season.