Realised IPL is something else after I got booed at Wankhede in Mumbai: Ajit Agarkar

Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar has revealed that he has been booed "many times" at his home ground Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai but it was like an 'eyeopener' when he got booed there while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL.

KKR had got all-out on 67 runs in the match and Mumbai Indians chased the target in just 5.3 overs. Ajit Agarkar had scored 15, the joint-highest runs for KKR in that match. From the one over Agarkar got to bowl, he conceded 5 runs without taking a wicket.

"I was booed at Wankhede at a lot of times. I didn't get booed there only when I was playing for Mumbai. Playing for India also I have got booed after bowling a bad over, didn't matter you are from Mumbai or not. But yes, IPL has changed that thing. Even Virat Kohli once said that we play for India and get booed, I think that match was played in Mumbai."

"I don't care about those things, I have got booed enough in my career. You are right but, you expect those things from some states but that was an eyeopener. I realized that this IPL is something else and love for the franchise is different. The fan following of some franchises have increased so much that fans recognize players because of those franchises and not the nation they represent," Ajit Agarkar said.

Ajit Agarkar, in his early days, wanted to become a batsman and he was fairly good at it. He was scoring runs and was being touted as the next Sachin Tendulkar of Indian cricket. Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra talked about the same with Agarkar during his latest interview. Chopra talked about an Under-16 match, which Agarkar came to play in Bhiwani (Haryana).

We were there was a player for Mumbai, his name was Ajit Agarkar and Sachin Tendulkar has given him pads also. Agarkar will be the next Tendulkar," Aakash Chopra recalled.

"Actually, it started because I wanted to become a batsman. In school I used to make runs, our coach was the same Ramakant Achrekar and he must have seen something in me. Sachin Tendulkar was by then the next big thing to come out of his coaching. Pravin Amre and many others also came before Sachin and were doing well. Many used to come out of his academy," Ajit Agarkar replied.

"I Used to make good runs and that was the perception of people. Now when you play well at the age of 16 you go and play IPL but then there was a fixed step to reach the national team. I used to make runs and there was news going around that there might be a new batsman coming from Mumbai but at that age, you think just of progressing in your game. Sachin gave me gloves. We were in the same school and he thought someone is performing well and so he gave me gloves. I didn't know him much then. I did not use his pad, maybe I could have become a better batsman if I had used his pad," Agarkar further added.

Ajit Agarkar played 191 ODI matches for India and scalped 288 wickets. His tally of 288 wickets is the third-highest amongst the Indian bowlers in 50-over cricket. The 42-year-old also represented India in 26 Test matches.