'You can't take 50 wickets in 20 games all the time'

How big a setback is it to not find yourself in the Asia Cup squad?
Any time you don't get picked it's a setback. It's not a question of how big or small a setback it is. It is more disappointing because it has come at the start of a season. If you don't make the squad at the start of the season then you're always playing catch-up. It's a tough call for me that they picked only 14 for the Asia Cup. But then again, looking at it another way, there's a long season ahead and there will be chances.

You've been in and out of the team for the better part of the last five years. Do you look at yourself as a central member of the team?
Well, I'm not a member of the team at the moment, so I wouldn't say central. But, after playing close to 130 one-dayers, I do think of myself as being there or thereabouts.

It mightn't be such a bad thing missing out on Sri Lanka with the flat, slow pitches and strong batting line-ups. Is England, with the Champions Trophy and friendly bowling conditions, more inviting?
No no, I don't think that's the right way to look at it. It's disappointing missing out on any cricket. We've played in India all our lives so there's no complaint about flat pitches. I have a fairly decent record in Sri Lanka, both at the Under-19s and at international cricket. So it's very disappointing not to get picked.

You raced to 50 wickets faster than anyone. But it was a bit of a freak thing wasn't it? You've bowled better since and taken fewer wickets ...
Absolutely. I keep telling people that you can't turn up and take 50 wickets in 20-odd games all the time. The fact that it's a world record means it isn't something that happens regularly. It's one of those things that happened. Form is a funny thing. There are times when you are in good form when even bad balls get you wickets. At the end of the day my average still hovers in the 26 range, which is pretty good considering how many of them were in the subcontinent. No-one actually looks at it that way. The expectations were too high after I got to 50 one-day wickets so quickly, and I guess it didn't work in my favour that I got that world record.

But it was not just 50 wickets - there were hopes that you were the next great allrounder ...
When I came into the team there were comparisons with many people. But I think that was rubbish. I was in the side as a bowler and batting at No. 9. And you need to be batting at No. 6 or 7 if you're an allrounder. I think it was all media hype saying that I was an allrounder. I hardly had an opportunity to bat because we had such a strong batting line-up. When I didn't make runs at No. 9 I was criticised for not delivering with the bat. I still don't consider myself an allrounder. I'm a bowler who bats a bit.

Let's focus now on your batting. In the past you have proved yourself good enough to score a Test century, but possess a measly overall average of 14. Does that bother you? In the last 15 months or so I would say I'm satisfied with my batting. Before that I sometimes played poor shots and got out, but I batted mostly at No. 8 and came in with very few overs remaining, so I don't think statistics really reflect how well you played. Since the England trip I think I've been pretty good with the bat, except for the Australian series where I didn't get too many runs. I'm never satisfied with what I do, I guess not too many people are, but there has been a definite improvement in my batting, though it doesn't seem to get noticed. Whenever my name comes up, people say, "He is good at batting but never delivers." No-one actually looks up the right stats and the real picture.

How big was the century at Lord's?
Very big. Just as a five-wicket haul is important, so is a hundred. A lot of batsmen have gone through careers without scoring a Test hundred, so it is very special. It was one of the biggest moments of my career, especially because I proved to myself that I could make big runs at that level.

When you see talent and Agarkar in the same sentence, usually, the word "unfulfilled" precedes the "talent". Does that bother you?
I have to get five-fors regularly to change that, which is not an easy task. I picked up Test and one-day five-fors in the space of weeks [on the tour of Australia in 2003-04], but before that it took ages. But at least now I know what it's like. In the one-dayers I had nine or ten four-wicket hauls before I got a five-for, but then again sometimes it's just that last wicket that eludes you. Unfulfilled talent, enigma ... these are just names that have stuck, but no-one actually looks up the stats. Unfortunately, even I don't, but recently someone sent them to me, and I was surprised at the improvement in the last year. But then again, who remembers that? It's easier to just go with the names that have stuck over the years. But I'm not worried about that. It's bound to go sometime.

How easy or difficult is it going to be for you to get back into the side?
I wouldn't say it will be easy, because there are already four seamers in the squad, and they've done well in the recent past. But there could be injuries, loss of form, or the need for an extra seamer when they go to England. There's a long season ahead and the Asia Cup is only a maximum of six matches. It won't be easy, you're always playing catch-up, but hopefully I'll go and play some county cricket in England over the next few days and keep myself match fit.