Ajit Manohar Pai is a famous Indian cricket player in India. He was one of the prominent faces in Indian cricket scenario in both national level and domestic level.
Early Life of Ajit Manohar Pai
Ajit Manohar Pai was born on 28th April in the year 1945 in Mumbai. He is a former Indian cricketer who played in one Test in 1969.
Career of Ajit Manohar Pai
Ajit Manohar Pai began his career as a bowler and the lower order batsman. He was an opening bowler. Ajit Manohar Pai made his debut for Bombay Cricket team in the Ranji Trophy in the 1968-1969 season. After taking 11 wickets in his first three first-class matches, Ajit Manohar Pai was selected to represent West Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Ajit Manohar Pai helped each team to the championship and finished the season with 129 runs at an average of 25.80 and 23 wickets at 23.21. In September 1969, Ajit Manohar Pai took 7 for 42 for West Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy.
International Career of Ajit Manohar Pai
Ajit Manohar Pai and was selected to open the bowling for Indian Cricket team in the First Test against New Zealand later that month. Ajit Manohar Pai took two wickets and India won, but for the Second Test the selectors decided to use the all-rounder Rusi Surti and Syed Abid Ali to open the bowling and strengthened the spin attack with Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan. Again Ajit Manohar Pai helped West Zone and Bombay Cricket Team win their respective championships in 1969-1970.
Batting Career of Ajit Manohar Pai
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
| Tests | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 35 | 43 | 7 | 392 | 91 | 10.88 | 0 | 39 | 0 |
Bowling Career of Ajit Manohar Pai
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
| Tests | 1 | 2 | 114 | 31 | 2 | 2/29 | 2/31 | 15.5 | 1.63 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-class | 35 | 2143 | 85 | 7/42 | 25.21 | 4 | 1 |
Later Career of Ajit Manohar Pai
Ajit Manohar Pai did not play any further matches in the Duleep Trophy, but in 1970-1971. There Ajit Manohar Pai had an outstanding match for Bombay against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Ajit Manohar Pai batted at number seven; he made 91 out of a Bombay total of 265, and then took 5 for 22 and 6 for 30 to take Bombay to victory by an innings and 82 runs. Once again he played in the Bombay side that won the Ranji Trophy. His bowling form fell away after 1970-71, but he played in two more Ranji Trophy-winning Bombay Cricket team 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 was his last first-class match.
