Ajit Agarkar: The Most Underrated Hero of Indian Cricket

For lot of you, Ajit Agarkar is now the Indian cricket team selector. But for those of you who did watch him play or remember his ODI career, he was the kind of bowler who would bowl five incredible deliveries and then that one bad ball which would go away for a boundary and that sums up his entire career. Now here’s the thing, right? But when you look at his records and when you look at Ajit Agarkar numbers, you would wonder why did he not play after the age of 30. And that’s right, the last time he played an ODI match for the Indian team, he was just 30 years of age.

Why Ajit Agarkar Deserves More Respect?

Just now, every time a cricket experts or anyone makes an all-time ODI 11 for the Indian team, you never find Agarkar’s name on the list. Even now if you’re reading this you might be wondering why I’m even suggesting Agarkar’s name and here’s why:

Ajit Agarkar has picked up 288 wickets across 191 games that he has played. If you didn’t know already in the history of Indian ODI cricket he’s the third highest wicket taker of all time. He has more wickets than Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, who would almost always make it to that all-time ODI 11. In fact, if you look at the avarage and the strike rate of the top 5 wicket takers in the ODI format for the Indian team, Agarkar has the best of them. He has an average of 27 and a strike rate of 32. Which are the best in the top five.

So you might be wondering why did he not play an ODI match after the age of 30 and why is he not talked about amongst the greats?

Ajit Agarkar made his debut in 1998 for the Indian team in the ODI format. But it was just the third match where he really made his mark because it was against the Australians where he took a 4 wickets haul and from then on he went on a 20 match streak to become the fastest ever in the ODI cricket to get to 50 ODI wickets. Even until date he is the fastest Indian taking just 23 matches in less than 200 days. This feat was phenomenal. A lot of people thought India had just found their sensational fast bowler that they were really looking out for after Kapi Dev. Now give you a little perspective on how quick these 50 wickets were in the same time periods where he went on to take 50 wickets. The second highest wicket taker in the world was Anil Kumble at just 29.

Now we’ve all seen Ajit Agarkar as the Indian selector nowadays and we all have opinion on the kind of selector that he is. But back in 1998, he wasn’t the tallest bowler going around, but hevwas very very quick. He had a fantastic bouncer and a natural outswinger in that, too. And later on, he also was able to swing the ball back in. So, you had a fast bowler within you, not only taking lot of wickets, bowling pretty quick, having a good bounce, swinging the ball both ways. What else do you really need?

Ironically, I say all of this, but Agar wasn’t supposed to be a fast bowler to begin with. The man loved his batting.

The Day Lord’s Stood Up for a Bowler:

Every cricketer dreams of making history at Lord’s – the Home of Cricket. Very few achieve it. In 2002, against England, India were staring at defeat. Great batsmen like Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar had failed to produce the innings the team needed. Then came Ajit Agarkar. A man selected primarily for his bowling. With patience, courage, and determination, he crafted an unforgettable 109 not out. Ball after ball, he frustrated England’s bowlers. Boundary after boundary, disbelief turned into admiration. When he finally crossed three figures, Lord’s honoured him forever.

His name entered the famous Honours Board – a place reserved for extraordinary performances. It remains his only Test century, but it is one of the most cherished by an Indian overseas. Sometimes, one innings is enough to become immortal.

More Than Just a Bowler:

Agarkar often surprised people with the bat. His fearless stroke play rescued India on several occasions. His unbeaten Lord’s century remains legendary. His 95 against the West Indies in an ODI showed that he could change games with the bat as well. He wasn’t merely a lower-order batter. He was a genuine all-round contributor.

The Adelaide Miracle:

If Lord’s showcased Agarkar’s batting, Adelaide highlighted his bowling brilliance. During India’s historic Test victory over Australia in 2003-04, Agarkar produced one of the finest spells of his career. His sensational 6 wickets for 41 runs dismantled one of the world’s strongest batting line-ups and helped India secure a famous overseas win. It was a performance that proved he could shine on the biggest stage.

Living Under the Shadow of Criticism:

Every successful athlete has moments they wish they could erase. For Agarkar, there were expensive spells that became easy targets for critics. Fans often remembered a poor over more vividly than months of consistent performances. The media questioned his place. Crowds doubted him. Yet every time he was written off, he fought back. That resilience defines his career far better than any isolated disappointment. Because cricket, like life, isn’t about never failing. It’s about refusing to let failure become your identity.

Why Was Ajit Agarkar So Underrated?

Perhaps he played in an era filled with giants. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh.These superstars naturally attracted most of the attention. Meanwhile, Agarkar quietly kept taking wickets. He delivered breakthroughs. He won matches. He played wherever the team needed him. Some heroes don’t seek headlines. They simply do their job.

Retirement Was Not the End:

In 2013, Ajit Agarkar announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He had represented India with distinction for almost a decade. After retirement, he became a respected commentator, analyst, coach, and later served in cricket administration before taking on an even bigger challenge.

The Man Who Now Chooses Team India:

In July 2023, Agarkar was appointed Chairman of the BCCI Senior Men’s Selection Committee. It was one of the toughest jobs in Indian sport. Today, instead of bowling the decisive over, he must make the decisive selection. Every squad announcement invites praise from some and criticism from others. But just as he faced pressure as a player, he now faces it as a selector, with the same calm demeanor that defined his playing days.

Ajit Agarkar may never receive the same level of public adoration as some of India’s biggest cricketing icons.

● But numbers don’t lie.

● Neither do memories of Lord’s.

● Neither does Adelaide.

● Nor do the 288 ODI wickets

● The world-record sprint to 50 ODI wickets

● The blazing 21-ball fifty or

● The unbeaten century at cricket’s most iconic venue.

From a fearless fast bowler to one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket administration, Ajit Agarkar‘s journey is proof that true impact isn’t always loud. Sometimes, the greatest stories belong to the quiet warriors. And Ajit Agarkar is undoubtedly one of them.

“Legends are not always the loudest names in history. Sometimes, they are the quiet warriors whose actions echo long after the applause has faded. Ajit Agarkar is one of those rare legends.”

What’s your view on Ajit Agarkar. Let us know in the comment section below.💬

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