Ajit Agarkar set to relinquish role as India chief selector after BCCI AGM
Ajit Agarkar has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he does not wish to continue as chairman of the senior men’s selection committee, effectively ending his three-year term, a development that emerged at the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Friday. The AGM authorised office-bearers to fill vacancies and the board is due to begin the process of appointing his successor.
A BCCI office-bearer, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that “Agarkar has formally informed the BCCI just before the AGM that he doesn’t wish to continue as a selector” after his term ends on October 4. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said after the AGM: “Today, there was no discussion on any individual,” he said after the AGM. “We still have 15 days to go. Fifteen days is a long time in the world of cricket. We have 15 days time, we will take a decision at an appropriate time. We will let you know about it.” Agarkar was unavailable for comment.
Agarkar took charge of the senior selection committee in July 2023 and oversaw several major personnel decisions during his tenure. Those moves included elevating Suryakumar Yadav as T20I captain in place of then vice-captain Hardik Pandya in 2024, replacing Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain with Shubman Gill after India’s Champions Trophy triumph last year, and dropping the T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar from the squad earlier in the year. His period in office also coincided with a run of high-profile Test retirements.
Relations between the selection committee and other parts of the BCCI apparatus deteriorated at times, with the committee and team management reported to have had differences with the BCCI Centre of Excellence over player management and rehabilitation. The board’s handling of Rohit Sharma’s future in July was cited as another source of strain. The Hindu reported that Saikia’s public statement backing the veteran opener’s continuation in the ODI set-up, issued without keeping the selection committee in the loop, added to the unease.
Delegates who attended the AGM told The Hindu that office-bearers informed them on the sidelines that the board would begin the process of finding Agarkar’s successor. If the BCCI follows the unwritten convention of zonal representation, former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel is likely to be the front-runner to replace him; the rules state that the player with the most Test caps chairs the selection committee.
Agarkar’s current term expires on October 4, and the BCCI has up to that date to finalise a decision, as Saikia noted that there are “15 days” remaining; the board’s next formal step will be the appointment of a new chairman for the senior men’s selection committee.
