Ajit Agarkar

Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar, a young pace-allrounder, whose career was incongruous with the talent he acquired.

Ajit was short in stature but lethal, swung the ball both ways, paving his path to international cricket as a 20-year-old. He deceived the stars of Zimbabwe and Australia on his debut series, followed by a remarkable 4/35 against the Kiwis in Sharjah. 

In just six months and 23 ODIs, Agarkar had scalped 50 ODI wickets, becoming the then fastest to reach the landmark. His 58 ODI wickets in 1998, to date, remain the fourth most among any pacer in a calendar year.

The Mumbaikar was tagged "the Bombay duck" during his 1999/00 tour of Australia, setting a dismal record of five consecutive ducks in tests, including four golden ducks.

Ajit's all-round prowess came in glimpses; he smashed the fastest 50 by an Indian, off just 21 balls, whilst struck thrice against Zimbabwe. 

In 2002, he had a career-best 95 while batting at 3 against West Indies, but his everlasting memory came at Lord's the same year, a freakish test ton under pressure, put his name on the honours board.

Injuries curtailed the southpaw; he was always in and out of the test side; his only five-for came in the second innings of the memorable 2003 Adelaide test, ripped through the dominant Aussies with figures of 6/41, and was fittingly at the non-striker's end when Rahul Dravid hit the famous winning runs.

Agarkar represented India at four World Cups; he retired after a successful 2007 T20 World Cup campaign. He was the fastest to 1000 runs and 200 wickets mark in just 133 ODIs. And also one of the ten players to achieve a double of 1000 runs and 275+ wickets in ODIs.

The Mumbai maverick dominated the domestic circuit, a 5/41 to defeat Karnataka in an enthralling Ranji Trophy final in 2010, led Mumbai to their 40th Ranji Trophy title in 2012/13; he also represented Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils for three seasons each in the Indian Premier League. He currently works as a broadcaster while coaching domestic sides.

(As of July 22)