When you enter international cricket as a bowler, you have to make an immediate impact with the ball. With limited spots up for grabs, there’s no substitute for churning out consistent performances early on in your career.
India’s Ajit Agarkar and Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis knew this well and troubled batters with the white ball after making their ODI debuts for their respective teams.
Within a short span of making their debuts, Agarkar and Mendis made their presence felt by racing to 50 ODI wickets in fewer matches. And they did so within a year of their ODI debuts — a feat achieved only by these two bowlers.
To be among the wickets, one needs top-level skills and persistence, which Agarkar and Mendis showcased early in their playing days.
Ajit Agarkar: A Batter Turned Into a Bowler
Even before Ajit Agarkar broke into the domestic setup, he was a brilliant batter. Since there was too much competition to break into Mumbai’s domestic team as a batter, he shifted his focus to bowling and became an all-rounder.
And who would have thought that this decision would turn out to be magical in the years to come?
Agarkar donned the Indian jersey for the first time in ODIs, making his debut on April 1, 1998, against Australia. It was the first match of the triangular series, involving India, Australia, and Zimbabwe.
In his first outing, the right-arm pacer mustered a wicket by conceding 31 runs in 5 overs. 6 days later, he bagged a four-wicket haul, which was instrumental in restricting Australia to 222 for 9.
In the next 20 matches, Agarkar established himself as a prime wicket-taker for India. He fetched his 50th ODI wicket in his 23rd match on September 30, 1998 — that’s just 182 days since his debut!
Agarkar was the fastest bowler to take 50 ODI wickets at that time and the fastest in terms of time taken — a record that still stands.
In those 23 games, the pacer went wicketless in just 2 matches and, overall, 4 times in the 33 ODIs he played within a year of his debut. That’s enough to depict his sheer consistency with the white ball.
In his first year, Agarkar sent down 291 overs in 33 ODIs, bagging 65 wickets at an average of 23, an economy of 5.15, and a strike rate of close to 27.
Agarkar further went on to play for India until 2007, featuring in 191 ODIs and taking 288 wickets — the third most wickets for India in ODIs.
Ajantha Mendis: The Mystery Spinner
Before Ajantha Mendis burst onto the scene, Agarkar had already retired from international cricket. But his 1998 record was still intact even as 2008 rolled in.
Then came Mendis, Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner, to challenge the status quo. His brilliant performances in domestic cricket earned him a call-up to Sri Lanka’s ODI team in 2008.
In the absence of their ace spinner, Muthiah Muralidaran, Sri Lanka handed out a debut to Mendis in an ODI against the West Indies on April 10, 2008.
In his first-ever match, the off-spinner returned with the figures of 3 wickets for 39 runs in 10 overs, leaving an immediate mark. In only his fifth ODI match, Mendis grabbed his first five-wicket haul against the UAE in the 2008 Asia Cup.
Then he went on a wicket-taking spree, adding 2 more five-fors and reaching 50 ODI scalps in 19 games, establishing himself as the fastest to 50 wickets.
He achieved the feat in 277 days, making him the second bowler after Agarkar to do so within a year of his ODI debut.
Throughout his first year, Mendis made batters dance to his tune with his mysterious spin. He had plenty of variations up his sleeve, from off-break to carrom ball — a delivery Mendis introduced to the world.
In his first year, Mendis played 28 ODI matches for Sri Lanka and took 64 wickets, including his career-best figures of 6 for 13 against India in the 2008 Asia Cup final. During this period, he averaged 13, had an economy rate of less than 4, and struck a wicket after every 20th ball.
Mendis was touted to be Muralidaran’s successor, but as good things fade away quickly, his mystery spin didn’t remain a mystery for too long. In all, Mendis featured in 87 ODIs, taking 152 wickets.
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