Ajit Agarkar continues to surprise many, including Australian batsmen, but not his Mumbai teammates. ‘‘He has always been an aggressive bowler who is looking for wickets,’’ remarked former Test wicketkeeper and Mumbai Ranji coach Chandrakant Pandit.Former Mumbai captain Paras Mhambrey, the current Maharashtra Ranji coach, feels Agarkar has matured as a bowler since making his first class debut in 1996. ‘‘He has grown as a bowler. He is more matured, relaxed and patient now,’’ says Mhambrey, who has seen Agarkar flourish from close quarters. Agarkar himself admitted it after paving the path for a sensational turnaround at Adelaide on Monday. ‘‘I know my body a bit better as well as the limitations of my bowling. I don’t have the pace of Gillespie. But, with my physique, there’s more chance to get leg before decisions because I have a skidding action. What you don’t have, you can make up for in other ways.’’So what makes Agarkar such a dangerous proposition with the ball? ‘‘At the point of delivery he gets everything right. Strong action and a fast arm movement that generates pace,’’ points out Mhambrey.These were some of the attributes that Agarkar displayed during his first limited overs match against Gujarat to return figures of 7-5-4-2 and steal a march over his famous teammates Mhambrey and Abey Kuruvilla.Since then it’s been a roller-coaster ride. Sterling displays were overshadowed by lacklustre performances that landed him on the sidelines often. But he managed to overcome those with sheer determination.Very few players would have managed to shake off the humiliation he suffered during India’s disastrous tour of Australia (1999-2000). All the heroics of being the best bowler (11 wickets) during the Tests were put to shade by the five ducks in six balls he garnered while batting. It also earned him the sobriquet ‘Bombay Duck’.On his return, when somebody asked him how he felt batting in Australia, Agarkar had remarked famously: ‘‘I don’t know. The bat never touched the ball!’’ His sense of humour was evident at Brisbane last week when he scored his first run and raised his bat to join in the humour from the stands.So how does he motivate himself? ‘‘I don’t think motivation has ever been a problem. How many people get an opportunity to play for the country? At 25, if I have a problem motivating myself, then obviously I am not enjoying my cricket,’’ he had told The Indian Express after his comeback to the Indian team last season (he was overlooked for the West Indies Test series at home).Motivation and enjoyment.Neither a problem for the A+ student.
