Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Agarkar, born on December 4, 1977, was one of India’s prominent fast bowlers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hailing from Mumbai, Agarkar went on to play 26 Tests, 191 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and four T20 Internationals for India.
Ajit Agarkar is the third highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs, then the fastest to bag 50 ODI wickets, the fastest in terms of matches to complete a double of 200 wickets and 1000 runs, fastest fifty by an Indian, in just 21 balls.
Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, both with the new and the old balls, Ajit Agarkar was considered to be India's answer for a fast-bowling all-rounder, for he was no mug with bat.
Ajit Agarkar – Some of the important batting and bowling records
1.ODI record for fastest 50 wickets
Having made his ODI debut in 1998, Agarkar raced to 50 wickets in only 23 matches. At the time, he was the quickest to reach the milestone. Subsequently, Ajantha Mendis broke that record in 2008 as he reached the mark in only 19 matches.
2.Seven consecutive ducks against Australia in Test cricket
As mentioned earlier, Agarkar had the ignominy of scoring five consecutive ducks in Test cricket during the tour to Australia in 1999-2000. While he recovered with an unbeaten 41 against South Africa soon on arrival at home, his poor run continued against the Aussies when they arrived in India in 2001. Picked for the first Test in Mumbai, Agarkar notched two more blobs to make it seven in a row against the Australians.
3.Fastest Indian to 50, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets
Agarkar has the distinction of being the fastest Indian to 50, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets. He got 50 wickets in 23 games, 150 in 97, 200 in 133 and 250 in 163. Later, Irfan Pathan beat him to become the fastest Indian to get to the 100 wicket milestone.
4. Fastest 50 for India in ODIs
Agarkar smashed a fifty off only 21 balls against Zimbabwe in an ODI in Rajkot in 2000. He had broken Kapil Dev’s record of 22 balls, which he achieved against West Indies in 1983. Interestingly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh have recorded 22-ball fifties after Agarkar.
5. Century at Lord’s
Agarkar scored his only Test century at the home of cricket, Lord’s. India were facing a huge target against England in 2002, when he smashed an unbeaten 109. He had scored a ton on the hallowed turf nine years before Rahul Dravid managed it. Legends like Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman could not manage three figures at Lord’s while playing for India.
Ajit Agarkar, born on December 4, 1977, was one of India’s prominent fast bowlers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Hailing from Mumbai, Agarkar went on to play 26 Tests, 191 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and four T20 Internationals for India.
Ajit Agarkar is the third highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs, then the fastest to bag 50 ODI wickets, the fastest in terms of matches to complete a double of 200 wickets and 1000 runs, fastest fifty by an Indian, in just 21 balls.
Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, both with the new and the old balls, Ajit Agarkar was considered to be India's answer for a fast-bowling all-rounder, for he was no mug with bat.
Ajit Agarkar – Some of the important batting and bowling records
1.ODI record for fastest 50 wickets
Having made his ODI debut in 1998, Agarkar raced to 50 wickets in only 23 matches. At the time, he was the quickest to reach the milestone. Subsequently, Ajantha Mendis broke that record in 2008 as he reached the mark in only 19 matches.
2.Seven consecutive ducks against Australia in Test cricket
As mentioned earlier, Agarkar had the ignominy of scoring five consecutive ducks in Test cricket during the tour to Australia in 1999-2000. While he recovered with an unbeaten 41 against South Africa soon on arrival at home, his poor run continued against the Aussies when they arrived in India in 2001. Picked for the first Test in Mumbai, Agarkar notched two more blobs to make it seven in a row against the Australians.
3.Fastest Indian to 50, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets
Agarkar has the distinction of being the fastest Indian to 50, 150, 200 and 250 ODI wickets. He got 50 wickets in 23 games, 150 in 97, 200 in 133 and 250 in 163. Later, Irfan Pathan beat him to become the fastest Indian to get to the 100 wicket milestone.
4. Fastest 50 for India in ODIs
Agarkar smashed a fifty off only 21 balls against Zimbabwe in an ODI in Rajkot in 2000. He had broken Kapil Dev’s record of 22 balls, which he achieved against West Indies in 1983. Interestingly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh have recorded 22-ball fifties after Agarkar.
5. Century at Lord’s
Agarkar scored his only Test century at the home of cricket, Lord’s. India were facing a huge target against England in 2002, when he smashed an unbeaten 109. He had scored a ton on the hallowed turf nine years before Rahul Dravid managed it. Legends like Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman could not manage three figures at Lord’s while playing for India.
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