So Long!

Its probably curtains for Ajit Agarkar in international cricket. However given the fragile nature of all bowlers fast in India (except Kumble - i mean the fast bowlers who dont call themselves spinners. Also not Prasad - i did not mean Slow Bowlers who insist on calling themselves fast) he might yet have another chance to add to the numerous ones he has already had.

Agarkar has easily been the most frustrating of Indian Cricketers in recent time (Sreesanth might be staking a claim to that honour soon though). A player most Indians have loved to hate. A player who might well be forgotten or if remembered only for his profligacy or for his duck scoring streak. This post is dedicated to Agarkar, to remind us of some of the glory moments he was responsible for India, a post asking for him to be regarded in a kinder light than he has been granted during his playing days.

Aged 20 and a few days with a debut against the Australians, Agarkar had taken just three matches to make an impact with a 4 wicket haul against the Australians and then embarked on a brilliant 2o match tour to snare the record of the fastest 50 wickets in ODIs. India had discovered a young wicket taker who was extremely efficient in the field. Stories of his ability with the bat meant that all had hopes of finally getting that successor to Kapil Dev. But the story of Agarkar's career has not been the 5 brilliant balls he bowls in an over but rather that 6th poor balls which disappears to the boundary regularly. His batting never really lived up to his potential but he had his moments. The fastest Indian ODI 50, a test century at Lords (a feat that has eluded even Sachin), an ODI top score of 95 and precious few match winning knocks at the death - Agarkar has always been the "What If he lived up to his potential" man for India.

But even if one decides that all this can be forgotten - that it doesnt really deserve a mention in the long run - no one should really grudge Agarkar his moment of glory in Adelaide. A moment easily on par with winning a World Cup - beating Australia in Australia in a test match. A typical Australian first inning powered by a 242 from Ponting had seen them post 556 in the first inning with the implicit expectation of seeing India fold up and hand over the series lead to Australia. They did not count for Dravid and VVS to play knocks that rivalled the one by Ponting to take India to a improbable 523 conceding a very acceptable and unexpected 33 run lead. One expected a tame draw. But Ajit Agarkar - tiny and frail looking, ears flapping in the wind - generating some good pace - came on and bowled the spell of his life scalping 6 wickets with his bunny Langer, Ponting and Katich amongst them. (Sachin left his tiny signature on the game picking up Martyn and Steve Waugh but more on Sachin later - this post is about the other Mumbaikar Agarkar) and India had bowled out the mighty Australians for 196 leaving India with 230 to win. Easy ? Tough?

Who else but the Wall to take us through. While we will all remember his triumphant tears when he cut the ball for a boundary - lets just keep our thoughts on the man who was with him at the other end - who with his 6 wicket spell had made possible one of the greatest Indian test triumphs.

Agarkar will look back at his career with a mixture of satisfaction and regret. Satisfaction because of his above mentioned achievements. Regret for each and every boundary ball bowled amidst an otherwise good over. Regret for always being evaluated as an allrounder and being pulled down inspite of having bowled really well. Regret for having moved from being the best Indian ODI bowler over the last 2 years to being out of the team in a span of 3 months. Regret for being just another cricketer inspite of having picked up 288 ODI wickets. Regret for what could have been if only he had lived up to his potential.

So long Ajit and thanks for some good times! We will forever wish there could have been more from you!