Slight, fiery and gifted, Ajit Agarkar never came to terms with being Kapil Dev's replacement as India's matchwinner with bat and ball. The ingredients were there, and in the right proportions, but never formed a heady and long-lasting mix. Agarkar's entry into international cricket - with an avalanche of wickets that made him the then fastest to 50 in ODIs - was matched for speed only by an astonishing batting slump during which he collected seven consecutive Test ducks against Australia. But he could bat, because tailenders simply do not score half-centuries in 21 balls, as Agarkar did in a one-day game against Zimbabwe, or score Test centuries at Lord's, as Agarkar did in some style in 2002. His aggression was an asset, but his body could not sometimes support it. He turned into a one-day specialist - arguably India's most effective ODI bowler in 2005-06 - but a disappointing World Cup campaign resulted in him being dropped for the Bangladesh series that followed.

Agarkar was part of the ODI squad that toured England in the summer of 2007, but his prospects of adding to his 191 ODI appearances faded after he was dropped following the series defeat. Agarkar remained a domestic force to be reckoned with, though, as his five-wicket haul in one of the most thrilling Ranji Trophy finals in Mysore in January 2010 attested to. Agarkar claimed 5 for 81 as Karnataka, chasing a target of 338, were bowled out for 331 in the post-lunch session of the fourth day's play. He captained Mumbai in the 2012-13 season, leading them to their 40th Ranji Trophy title. Just prior to the following season, Agarkar announced his retirement from all cricket.
ESPNcricinfo staff