Nationality: India
Position: Middle order Batter
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Slow Left Arm Orthodox
Date of Birth: 1964-04-03 Age: 61
Ajay Kumar Sharma, a cricketer from India, had a career that was marred by disappointment and controversy.
Despite his exceptional talent and impressive records in domestic cricket, Sharma's international opportunities were limited, and his career came to an abrupt end due to allegations of involvement in match-fixing.
Born on April 3, 1964, in Delhi, Ajay Sharma displayed his cricketing skills from a young age.
He made his first-class debut in 1984-85, representing Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.
Sharma's batting prowess and ability to contribute with left-arm spin bowling quickly caught the attention of selectors and fans alike.
In 1987-88, Sharma earned his much-awaited Test debut against the West Indies.
Although his scores of 30 and 23 showed promise, his international career failed to take off.
It was a missed opportunity for a player who had an impressive first-class average, the third-highest among those who had scored 10,000 runs.
Unfortunately, another chance at Test cricket never came his way.
Despite the lack of opportunities on the Test stage, Sharma managed to carve a niche for himself in the One Day International (ODI) format.
Though he excelled in both batting and bowling, he was often typecast as a one-day specialist.
Sharma appeared in 31 ODIs, contributing significantly with his left-arm spin and displaying his batting skills on various occasions.
However, Sharma's final ODI appearance came in 1993-94.
Surprisingly, at the age of under 30, he was unable to make a comeback to the international scene.
Nevertheless, he continued to dominate the domestic circuit, representing Delhi with remarkable performances year after year.
In the 1999-2000 season, Sharma's exceptional batting skills were on full display as he became the highest run-scorer in the esteemed Ranji Trophy.
His tally of 31 hundreds in the tournament also broke records and showcased his consistency and hunger for runs.
Moreover, Sharma had the distinction of being only the third batsman to score 1000 runs in a single Ranji Trophy season during 1996-97.
However, tragedy struck in 2000 when Sharma's career was abruptly cut short.
He was handed a life ban from cricket after being found guilty of involvement with bookmakers.
The ban was a severe blow to Sharma, who had always seemed to have a strained relationship with the cricketing establishment.
Though his international career was overshadowed by controversy, Sharma's contributions to domestic cricket cannot be undermined.
He displayed exceptional talent, skill, and consistency, leaving behind a legacy that goes beyond the stain of match-fixing allegations.
Ajay Kumar Sharma's cricketing journey was a tumultuous one.
His limited opportunities in Test cricket, despite an impressive first-class average, left many feeling disappointed.
However, his performances in the ODI format and his dominating presence in domestic cricket showcased his extraordinary abilities.
Sadly, his career was cut short due to involvement in the match-fixing scandal, leaving behind a sense of unfulfilled potential and a tarnished reputation.
Batting Stats
Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 6s | 4s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T20Is | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
T20s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ODIs | 31 | 27 | 6 | 424 | 0 | 15.70 | 469 | 90.41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Tests | 1 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 30 | 26.50 | 169 | 31.36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
FC | 129 | 166 | 16 | 10120 | 0 | 60.96 | 0 | - | 38 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
List A | 113 | 97 | 19 | 2814 | 0 | 29.01 | 0 | - | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Stats
Format | Mat | Inns | Wkts | Runs | Overs | Ave | Econ | Wide | NoBall | 4w | 5w | 10w |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T20Is | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
T20s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ODIs | 31 | 29 | 15 | 875 | 190 | 58.33 | 4.61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tests | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | - | 2.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FC | 129 | 0 | 87 | 2698 | 1073 | 31.01 | 2.51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
List A | 113 | 0 | 108 | 3064 | 664.2 | 28.37 | 4.61 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Last updated: 2024-12-01 12:12:30