Ajit Agarkar: All you need to know about Team India's new chairman of selectors

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar was on Tuesday appointed as chairman of senior mens selection panel on recommendations of the Cricket Advisory Committee CACThe Cricket Advisory Committee CAC consisting of Ms Sulakshana Naik Mr Ashok Malhotra and Mr Jatin Paranjape interviewed applicants for the position of one selector in the Mens Selection Committee The threemember CAC has unanimously recommended Mr Ajit Agarkar for the said position BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said in a media releaseThe committee further recommended Mr Agarkar for the role of Chairperson of the Mens Selection Committee based on seniority total number of Test matchesThe rightarm pacer from Mumbai has been a chairman of the selection panel in the past as he headed the post for Mumbai Cricket Association MCA twice in 2017 and 2019 He was also appointed as the assistant coach of the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023Agarkar made his debut for India in 1998 and went on to play 26 Tests 191 ODIs and 4 T20Is for the team till 2007 He was also part of the 2007 T20 World Cupwinning Indian teamHe scalped a total of 58 wickets in 26 Tests while finishing with 288 wickets in ODIs He played just 4 T20Is picking only 3 wickets He was the first Indian cricketer to take a wicket off his first ball in T20I cricket a feat he achieved against South Africa in Indiarsquos inaugural 20over international match in 2007He also holds the record for the fastest halfcentury in ODI cricket by an Indian off 21 balls a feat he achieved in 2000 in a match against Zimbabwe Apart from this he is also amongst the handful of Indian batters to hit a century at the historic Lordrsquos Ground which came in 2002Agarkar was part of the Indian squads for the 1999 2003 and 2007 World Cup tournaments besides contributing for Indias win in the 2002 Champions TrophyHis first breakthrough came when he broke Dennis Lilleersquos world record for fastest 50 wickets in ODIs achieving the feat from only 23 matches He held the record from 1998 until 2009 when Ajantha Mendis achieved the feat from just 19 matches He is currently the third highest wickettaker 288 for India in ODIs after Javagal Srinath 315 and Anil Kumble 337The pacer also had a decent career in the Indian Premier League playing for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils He played 42 matches and picked 29 wickets with a best of 325 Agarkar retired from all cricket in 2013 after leading the Mumbai side to the Ranji Trophy win that season Agarkar has played 191 ODIs apart from 26 Tests and 4 T20Is He was a part of the 1999 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup squad and also featured in the 2007 World T20 winning Indian teamAgarkar has a Test hundred to his name at Lords cricket ground and had played a pivotal role in Indias Test victory in Australia in 2004 with a sixwicket haul in Adelaide He still holds the record for the fastest halfcentury by an Indian batter in ODI achieved with a 21ball fifty against Zimbabwe in 2000 He also held the record for being the fastest to reach 50 ODI wickets for nearly a decade accomplishing the milestone in just 23 matches