MUMBAI, March 28: ``Ajit Agarkar is the answer to India's search for a gutsy all-rounder. He bowled with a lot of aggression on this tour and batted superbly when the chips were down. He has tremendous talent and the right temperament to succeed at the highest Test level,'' were the India A coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth's views on the Mumbai all-rounder after his team returned successful from Pakistan with a 1-0 verdict in the rain-marred cricket`Test' series recently.A just reward for the 20-year-old Agarkar's displays came today when the National selectors included him in the 14-member Indian squad for the triangular one-day series featuring Australia and Zimbabwe.
Agarkar was a bundle of joy while reacting to his selection. ``I had a good tour of Pakistan and now it is up to me to prove myself at the highest level,'' he opined while speaking to The Indian Express this evening.
Agarkar had played a lead role in India A's triumph in the `Test' series claiming 16 wickets that included two five-wickethauls. Generating ferocious pace, he captured nine wickets (6-72 & 3-62) to script India's success in the only `Test' that lasted the full distance.
Pitted against the likes of Pakistan Test discards Salim Elahi, Shahid Afridi, Basit Ali and Hasan Raza, Agarkar stole a march over his famed opponent -- the Pakistan A captain Aaquib Javed -- with his exploits.
Besides, he underlined his all-round skills by cracking an unbeaten 109 (135b, 15x4) against Peshawar Association XI in a practice match.
Though Agarkar revelled in the longer version of the game, he has also made a mark in overs-limited matches too. The best player award during the season's Challenger Series staged at the Wanhede Stadium in October being a case in point. In an event dominated by spinners, Agarkar took ten wickets in three matches to bag the individual honours.
Agarkar pointed out to a ``good rythm'' in his bowling coupled with an extra effort in the batting department as some of the recipes for his recent highs.Former Test starDilip Vengsarkar, welcoming Agarkar's inclusion, observed: ``It was high time Ajit and Vinod Kambli were selected. In fact, I would have been suprised if both were not to figure in the squad.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
