AJIT AGARKAR

Ajit Agarkar is an Indian cricketer who has been a potential player for the Indian squad since his arrival in the International cricket scene. His full name is Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar and he was born on December 4,1997, in Mumbai. Ajit was raised by his grandparents at Shivaji Park where many renowned cricketing greats practised. Completing his education at Ruparel College in Matunga, Mumbai, Ajit went on to pursue his interest in cricket, becoming one of India's most talented and promising young players. Now, happily married to Fatima Ghadially and with a son, Raj, Ajit Agarkar devotes his attention to his family and his forte for cricket.

Although Ajit's lightly built frame obscures his undermining skill and talent as an all-rounder, he has the potential to be compared with the role played by cricketing great, Kapil Dev, when in form. A fiery right-arm fast-medium bowler, Ajit Agarkar combines pace with swing to an effective measure. He is also a potential lower-order right-hand batsman who has delivered in the past. The major teams that Ajit Agarkar represents are India, Mumbai and Middlesex.

In his cricketing career, Ajit Agarkar has played 26 Tests, scoring 571 runs including his highest with an unbeaten Test century of 109 (not-out), batting at number eight, at Lord's in 2002. His Test bowling statistics display his take of 58 wickets with his best being 4/61.

In the One Day International circuit, Ajit made his debut against Australia at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi, on April 1,1998, where he took the crucial wicket of Adam Gilchrist. Since then he has played in 183 ODIs, scoring 1250 runs, taking 276 wickets with the best being 6/42. Ajit Agarkar has also played in six World Cup matches taking 7 wickets.

Although Ajit Agarkar has performed well on numerous occasions, he has a poor Test career and also a number of performance slumps, with a number of ducks and expensive bowling. However, his 'never say die' attitude has enabled him to make strong comebacks, making him a regular player of the Indian cricket team.

Amongst the other numerous achievements by Agarkar, some of his most noted are:

• He has set a world record for the fastest 50 wickets in One-Day International matches.
• He holds the world record of playing least number of matches to take 200 ODI wickets and completing 1000 runs, in 133 matches, breaking Shaun Pollock's record accomplished in his 138th match.
• He has the world record of hitting the fastest half century - off only 21 balls - surpassing Kapil Dev's record of 22 balls in 1983.