Chetan Sharma vs Ajit Agarkar

[The Outsider]

One similarity of Agarkar and Chetan Sharma is that both were compared to Kapil when they came on the scene. But if I had to choose, I would definitely choose Chetan Sharma. Agarkar is the biggest bottler in world cricket I have ever seen. Put him under the slightest of pressure and he is guaranteed to get rid of it by conceding a boundary to the opposition. Utter piece of trash and a great study in how stats cannot justify cricketing action. The guy bottles up to the extent that even if he bowls 4 consecutive dot balls, he will deliver a boundary in the next 2 - forget about the context of the match, he cannot even handle pressure in an over. Chetan Sharma was really good till he lost his outswing for some reason. Till the point he could swing the ball away, he was a pretty decent prospect with his nippy pace and inswinging deliveries. But once he lost his variation of the away swinger 3-4 years into his debut he became a quick, ineffective trundler along the lines of Sami.

[thevortex]

Ajit Agarkar is by far the more talented of the two. I would guess also the quicker among the two if push came to shove. Perhaps Chetan would bowl more consistent pace, but Agarkar could get it up there when he wanted to. And Agarkar had something Chetan never could - a really mean bouncer. Well disguised too. As far as action is concerned, Agarkar is an enigma. Chetan was all arms and legs in his run up and in his delivery stride. Agarkar was a picture of poise and controlled release. I had the pleasure of watching Agarkar in the flesh doing his magic on a dead Chennai college wicket. Could not help but be impresed. I would not compare their batting really. There is little to choose. Long story short - Agarkar it is.

[bihutoli]

For one of our most successful bowlers in odis Agarkar bhai certainly gets a lot of flak on these boards. He may have tossed around with our feelings a bit but in terms of ability and results, he is way ahead of Chetan Sharma. So Agarkar for me.