PICKING THE PICKER'S BRAIN

In the sixth episode of CEAT Beyond the Scoreboard, Krishnamachari Srikkanth recalls his time as chairman of the BCCI selection committee

- BY ANIRUDH MADHAVAN

GROWING UP IN MUMBAI, Ajit Agarkar would have heard whispers about a 'prodigy of prodigies' called Sachin Tendulkar. They shared the same coach, the legendary Ramakant Achrekar, who, if no one else, would have told him about the boy wonder he had taken under his wing.

Then an aspiring batter, little Ajit would have basked in the glory of the success of his senior, and would go on to share a dressing room for years in the national and Ranji teams.

Now, more than three decades later, Agarkar has seen another boy wonder, one who also defies logic and belief. A 15-year-old who scored a 35-ball century in the IPL, who hit Jasprit Bumrah for a six first ball, and who won India the Under 19 World Cup by clobbering 175 in the final.

This time, Agarkar can do more than watch and admire. As the BCCI's chairman of selectors, he has the power to let loose Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the world. It's a call every fan is expecting, and there are rumours it might happen soon.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was captain when Tendulkar made his international debut in Pakistan at 16, had this piece of advice for Agarkar: “Dei Ajit, fast-track him,