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Happy Birthday Ajit Agarkar: 5 most memorable moments of India legend's career

Soumyajit Dutta

Ajit Agarkar [Source: AFP Photos]Ajit Agarkar [Source: AFP Photos]

Ajit Agarkar, the current Indian chief selector, turns 48 years old today, on December 4, 2025. Though he often makes it to the headlines because of the controversial selection decisions that the BCCI panel makes after India's squad selection for any format, he was an iconic pace bowler of his era.

The Kapil Dev-esque stature of Ajit Agarkar with the bat and the ball, who never conformed to a long-term story, has some moments to celebrate even then. Across his 221 international appearances, let's take a look at some of his most memorable ones that make the 90's debutant a legend in India's cricket golden books.

1) Agarkar's Lord's miracle in 2002

After India faced a massive target of 568 runs at Lord's in 2002, Ajit Agarkar played a defiant and memorable innings to make it one of his best in his career. Coming in at number eight with the match all but lost, the pacer showcased his talent with the bat by scoring a magnificent, unbeaten 109.

His maiden Test century, filled with 16 boundaries, provided a fighting finish for India in their second innings. Though England won the match by 170 runs, Agarkar’s resistance and brilliant hundred remained the standout performance for India in a tough series opener.

2) Agarkar's best-ever ODI spell in 2004

In a losing effort against Australia in Melbourne on January 9, 2004, Ajit Agarkar’s heroics came with the ball. He delivered a stunning spell with the ball, taking 6 wickets for just 42 runs in 9.3 overs.

His brilliant spell dismantled the Australian top and middle order, restricting them to 288. Despite Agarkar's match-defining effort, which included the key wickets of Gilchrist, Hayden, Martyn, Symonds, Harvey, and Williams, India fell short by 18 runs while chasing with only Sourav Ganguly top scoring with his 82.

3) Agarkar's magic against Sri Lanka in 2005

On November 3, 2005, in Pune, Ajit Agarkar doubled on a performance that made his name synonymous with the previous bowling greats of India. His brilliant spell of 5 wickets for 44 runs dismantled Sri Lanka's batting lineup, restricting them to just 261 in an ODI game.

Agarkar's heroics included the key wickets of Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, and Muthiah Muralidaran. This decisive five-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match award and set up India's successful chase, which was closed by a win by four wickets.

4) Agarkar becomes the fastest to take 50 wickets in ODIs

Agarkar notably shattered the record for the quickest bowler to 50 ODI wickets, reaching the milestone in a mere 23 matches, a mark that stood as the fastest for nearly a decade. His record-breaking 50th wicket came against Zimbabwe in Harare on September 30, 1998 which is still unbroken by any Indian bowler.

At the time, no bowler in history had scaled that height so swiftly. However, in January 2009, Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis eclipsed Agarkar’s feat by racing to 50 ODI wickets in just 19 matches, a record that still stands today as the fastest ever.

5) Agarkar racks the fastest 50 in ODIs

Ajit Agarkar was interestingly groomed as a batter during his junior days in Mumbai, and he paid off the trainings as he produced one of Indian cricket’s most stunning all-round performances and etched his name into the record books on 14 December 2000 against Zimbabwe at Rajkot. 

Coming in at No. 8 with India struggling, Agarkar unleashed a breathtaking unbeaten 67 off just 25 balls, laced with 7 fours and 4 sixes, to help seal a 39-run victory. In the process, he smashed the fastest-ever fifty by an Indian in ODIs, racing to the landmark in a mere 21 deliveries, a national record that still stands today ahead of Kapil Dev's 22-ball fifty.