https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ajit_Pai_%28cricketer%29Ajit Pai (cricketer) - Revision history2026-09-07T01:05:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ajit_Pai_(cricketer)&diff=127781&oldid=prev>Nardog: unsourced2021-05-09T11:23:14Z<p>unsourced</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}<br />
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{{for|the American FCC Chairman|Ajit Pai}}<br />
{{Infobox cricketer<br />
| name = Ajit Pai<br />
| image = <br />
| caption =<br />
| fullname = Ajit Manohar Pai<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1945|04|28}} <br />
| birth_place = [[Mumbai|Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />
| death_date =<br />
| death_place =<br />
| heightft = 5<br />
| heightinch = 11+1/2<br />
| batting = Left-handed<br />
| bowling = Right-arm fast-medium<br />
| columns = 2<br />
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Tests]]<br />
| matches1 = 1<br />
| runs1 = 10<br />
| bat avg1 = 5.00<br />
| 100s/50s1 = –/–<br />
| top score1 = 9<br />
| deliveries1 = 114<br />
| wickets1 = 2<br />
| bowl avg1 = 15.50<br />
| fivefor1 = –<br />
| tenfor1 = –<br />
| best bowling1 = 2/29<br />
| catches/stumpings1= –/–<br />
| column2 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]<br />
| matches2 = 35 <br />
| runs2 = 872<br />
| bat avg2 = 24.22<br />
| 100s/50s2 = –/5<br />
| top score2 = 91<br />
| deliveries2 = 4924<br />
| wickets2 = 85<br />
| bowl avg2 = 25.21<br />
| fivefor2 = 4<br />
| tenfor2 = 1<br />
| best bowling2 = 7/42<br />
| catches/stumpings2= 39/–<br />
| international = true<br />
| country = India<br />
| testdebutfor =<br />
| testdebutagainst =<br />
| testdebutdate = 25 September<br />
| testdebutyear = 1969<br />
| lasttestdate = 25 September<br />
| lasttestfor =<br />
| lasttestagainst =<br />
| lasttestyear = 1969<br />
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/32149.html Cricinfo<br />
| date = 30 July 2020<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Ajit Manohar Pai''' (born 28 April 1945) is a former [[India]]n [[cricket]]er who played in one [[Test cricket|Test]] in 1969. <br />
<br />
==Cricket career==<br />
A tall opening bowler and useful lower-order batsman, Pai made his debut for [[Bombay cricket team|Bombay]] in the [[Ranji Trophy]] in the 1968-69 season. After taking 11 wickets in his first three [[first-class cricket|first-class]] matches he was selected to represent [[West Zone cricket team|West Zone]] in the [[Duleep Trophy]]. He helped each team to the championship and finished the season with 129 runs at an average of 25.80<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1343/f_Batting_by_Season.html Ajit Pai batting and fielding by season]</ref> and 23 wickets at 23.21.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1343/f_Bowling_by_Season.html Ajit Pai bowling by season]</ref><br />
<br />
In September 1969 he took 7 for 42 for West Zone against [[Central Zone cricket team|Central Zone]] in the Duleep Trophy<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/30/30529.html Central Zone v West Zone 1969-70]</ref> and was selected to open the bowling for [[India cricket team|India]] in the First Test against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] later that month. He took two wickets and India won,<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/30/30548.html India v New Zealand, Bombay 1969-70]</ref> but for the Second Test the selectors decided to use the all-rounders [[Rusi Surti]] and [[Syed Abid Ali]] to open the bowling and strengthened the spin attack with [[Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan]]. Again he helped West Zone and Bombay win their respective championships in 1969-70.<br />
<br />
He did not play any further matches in the Duleep Trophy, but in 1970-71 he had an outstanding match for Bombay against [[Saurashtra cricket team|Saurashtra]] in the Ranji Trophy. Batting at number seven, he made 91 out of a Bombay total of 265, then took 5 for 22 and 6 for 30 to take Bombay to victory by an innings and 82 runs.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/31/31322.html Saurashtra v Bombay 1970-71]</ref> Once again he played in the Bombay side that won the Ranji Trophy.<br />
<br />
His bowling form fell away after 1970-71, but he played in two more Ranji Trophy-winning Bombay sides, in 1974-75 and 1975–76, seasons in which his batting (310 runs at 28.11) and catching (18 catches in 10 matches) were more prominent. The 1975-76 victory in the final over [[Bihar cricket team|Bihar]] was his last first-class match.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bihar v Bombay 1975-76 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/35/35897.html |website=CricketArchive |accessdate=30 July 2020}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Later life==<br />
Pai worked as an architect for the [[Bank of Baroda]].<ref>{{cite web |date=22 June 2016|last1=Mukherjee |first1=Abhishek |title=Ajit Pai: An Indian seamer lost in the era of spin |url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/ajit-pai-an-indian-seamer-lost-in-the-era-of-spin-131029 |website=Cricket Country |accessdate=30 July 2020}}</ref><br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1343/1343.html Ajit Pai at Cricket Archive]<br />
* [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/32149.html Ajit Pai at Cricinfo]<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pai, Ajit}}<br />
[[Category:1945 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:India Test cricketers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]<br />
[[Category:Mumbai cricketers]]<br />
[[Category:West Zone cricketers]]<br />
[[Category:Cricketers from Mumbai]]</div>>Nardog