[Watch] When Ajit Agarkar Became Legend For India In ODI Cricket

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Ajit Agarkar, maybe known as India's chief selector by the current generation of cricket followers, but there was a time when the Mumbaikar burst onto the scene as one of the brightest young talents for India, not just with the ball but also with the bat. 

Primarily a right-arm fast-bowler who acted as an enforcer in persistent search for wickets, Agarkar could also smash the bowling when he wanted down the order in his aggressive style and belligerence.

At times, he is remembered more fondly for an epic Test century at Lord's in 2002 than his magnum opus 6-fer in India's remarkable overseas triumph in Adelaide a year later. 

Those were two of Agarkar's finest feats as a former India cricketer but his most enterprising display came during a One-Day International played against Zimbabwe in the year 2000 when the attacking lower-order batter became the fastest Indian half-centurion in the format. 


When Agarkar Smashed Record ODI Fifty For India 

Walking in at No.8 during the fifth and final ODI of the series on a belter of a wicket in Rajkot, Agarkar gave the ball a full monte and hammered the Zimbabweans to all parts of the ground. What started off as an amusing counterattack at the crease turned into a full-blown aggressive knock as the then 23-year-old hit some of the most glorious strokes and destroyed the opposition plans and field-settings. 


Facing the red-ball in white clothing, Agarkar shined bright to bully the opposition line-up and raced along to a half-century in just 21 deliveries, surpassing legendary former skipper and allrounder Kapil Dev's record of 22-ball fifty versus West Indies in 1983 to become the fastest Indian fifty maker. 

Since then, Virender Sehwag (22 balls vs Kenya, 2001), Rahul Dravid (22 balls vs New Zealand, 2003) and Yuvraj Singh (22 balls vs Bangladesh, 2004) have all matched Kapil's tally to be the joint second-highest to the feat but no one in the past 23 years have managed to eclipse the high Agarkar reached with the bat. 

The earnest cricketer, who is celebrating his 46th birthday on Monday (December 4), eventually finished with 67 not out off 25 deliveries to help India push their total to 301/6 in a comprehensive victory. Agarkar played 26 Tests, 191 ODIs and 4 T20Is and was part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup-winning side.