Wisden Overview
In his early career the slightly-built Raju Kulkarni was something of a tearaway - his lack of control not being helped by a peculiar action in which his head lunged sideways at the point of delivery. But as he matured he cut down his pace and concentrated on swing off a little more than medium pace, preferably as a first-change bowler. He first hit the headlines when he took 8 for 111 for Bombay in the 1982-83 Ranji Trophy semi-final, and made his one-day debut the following December against West Indies. He visited Zimbabwe with the Indian youth side in 1984 but remained on the periphery of the national side, although he toured Australia in 1985-86 where he made three more ODI appearances. His Test debut came in 1986-87 against Australia at Bombay - Kulkarni wasn't originally picked but received a call on the morning of the match telling him to rush to the ground. He took a creditable 3 for 85 on a pitch which was designed to aid spin. He made two more Test appearances against Pakistan later that winter with meagre results and he drifted out of consideration. He continued to perform admirably for Bombay and was included in the Indian squad for the 1990 Asia Cup but didn't play - thereafter he concentrated more on his sports equipment business.
Martin Williamson