Reports: Senior player wants Ajit Agarkar as bowling coach of Indian team

A superior player of the Indian team wants former pacer Ajit Agarkar to be the bowling coach of the team at least till 2023 ODI World Cup. It has been reported that the senior player is “very keen” to have the veteran pacer as the part of team management of the squad. The current bowling coach of the team is a former Indian seamer Paras Mhambre.

Meanwhile, the 44-year old is currently serving as an expert and TV commentator. In 2021, Agarkar was one of the favorites to become the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief selector. However, he was piped in before Chetan Sharma.

“The senior player, who plays a vital role in decision-making in Indian cricket now, wants an experienced hand like Agarkar guiding the bowlers till the 2023 ODI World Cup. Mhambrey is a good bowling coach and can look after budding bowlers at India A, India Under-19 and at pacers the National Cricket Academy,” a source was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Ajit Agarkar took 349 wickets while playing for India

Agarkar represented India between 1998 and 2007. The bowling all-rounder played a total of 28 Tests, 191 ODIs and four T20Is and ended up with a total tally of 349 wickets across all three formats. The right-arm fast bowler also represented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Daredevils (DD) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Agarkar finished his IPL career after scalping 29 wickets in 42 matches at an average of 39.69.

Agarkar is placed third among the highest wicket-takers for India in ODIs. The pacer’s most notable performance with the ball in ODIs came against the mighty Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2004. Although, the Men in Blue lost that contest, Agarkar bagged six wickets giving away just 42 runs.

Recognized for his skill to swing the ball both ways, both with the new and the old ball. The 44-year old was then considered to be the fast-bowling all-rounder for which India were searching for a very long time. He also hit a stunning Test century at Lord’s Cricket Ground in 2002.