Slight, fiery and gifted, Ajit Agarkar is still coming to terms with being Kapil Dev's replacement as India's matchwinner with bat and ball. The ingredients are there, and in the right proportions. But they are yet to form a heady and long-lasting mix. Agarkar's entry into international cricket - with an avalanche of wickets that made him the fastest to 50 in ODIs - was matched for speed only by an astonishing batting slump that saw him collect seven consecutive Test ducks against Australia. But India knows he can bat, because tailenders simply do not score half-centuries in 21 balls, as Agarkar did in a one-day game against Zimbabwe, or score Test centuries at Lord's, as Agarkar did in some style in 2002. His aggression is an asset, but the body cannot sometimes support it. If he finds his confidence, and develops strength, Agarkar could yet be very special for India. |