Ajit Agarkar’s Tenure as Chief Selector Nears Its End
Indian cricket is heading for a significant change behind the scenes, with Ajit Agarkar set to leave his position as chairman of the BCCI’s senior men’s selection committee at the end of his current term.
Agarkar has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India that he does not intend to continue in the role, according to multiple reports published on September 18 and 19.
India Today reported, citing sources close to Agarkar, that the former India fast bowler has already communicated his decision to the BCCI’s top officials. Hindustan Times separately reported that the Board received a communication from Agarkar stating his intention to step down when his term ends.
An official announcement from the BCCI on Agarkar’s departure and his successor is still awaited.
Agarkar Had Been Eligible for Another Extension
Agarkar took charge as chairman of the senior men’s selection committee in July 2023, succeeding Chetan Sharma. He has therefore been at the centre of India's selection decisions during a period of considerable change in the national team.
Earlier this year, there had been expectations that Agarkar could receive another extension that would keep him in the job closer to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Indian Express reported in April that the BCCI was preparing to extend his tenure, while another report in August said Board officials were expected to discuss a further one-year extension with him.
The situation subsequently changed.
The Indian Express now reports that Agarkar has decided against seeking another extension, bringing his tenure towards a close.
Did Differences Over Rohit Sharma Play a Role?
One of the major issues surrounding Agarkar’s final months has been the future of former India captain Rohit Sharma in ODI cricket.
Hindustan Times reports that recent events in which the BCCI differed with reservations held by the Agarkar-led selection committee over Rohit’s ODI future may have accelerated the chief selector’s departure. However, that interpretation comes from reporting around the situation and should not be treated as an officially stated reason from Agarkar himself.
The Indian Express had previously reported in August that differences of opinion between the selectors and BCCI regarding Rohit’s future formed part of the backdrop to discussions about Agarkar’s proposed extension.
Agarkar also did not attend a recent BCCI review meeting. At the time, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said Agarkar was out of town for personal reasons and that the meeting had been called at short notice. His absence therefore should not, by itself, be treated as evidence of a dispute.
BCCI AGM Left the Final Decision to Office-Bearers
Agarkar’s future was one of the subjects surrounding the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai.
Rather than announcing a final decision at the AGM, the general body authorised the BCCI office-bearers to handle matters relating to the selection committees.
Saikia subsequently said the Board still had time to make its decision.
“We still have 15 days to go. In 15 days, a long time in the world of cricket.”
The BCCI secretary said the decision would be taken at the appropriate time.
Subsequent reporting, however, indicates that Agarkar has communicated his intention to leave rather than pursue another term.
Parthiv Patel Emerges as Possible Successor
Attention will now turn to who could take charge of India's senior men's selection committee.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has emerged as one of the prominent names under consideration, according to multiple reports. Former India spinner and current selector Pragyan Ojha has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.
Parthiv represented India in 25 Tests, while Ojha played 24 Tests.
Hindustan Times notes that under the BCCI constitution, the most capped Test player on the selection committee becomes its chairman. The final composition of the committee will therefore matter when determining who takes over the role.
No successor has yet been officially announced by the BCCI.
Three Years of Major Decisions Under Agarkar
Agarkar’s tenure coincided with one of the most eventful periods in recent Indian cricket.
He assumed the job shortly before the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India went unbeaten through the league and knockout stages before losing to Australia in the final.
India then ended its long wait for an ICC title by winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados.
The team followed that success by winning the 2025 Champions Trophy, going through the tournament unbeaten and defeating New Zealand in the final.
India also won the 2026 T20 World Cup during Agarkar’s tenure. The Indian Express notes that his period as chief selector ultimately coincided with two T20 World Cup victories and a Champions Trophy title.
Agarkar Also Oversaw a Major Generational Transition
The trophies tell only part of the story.
Agarkar’s selection committee also had to manage a major transition involving some of Indian cricket’s biggest names.
During this period, Shubman Gill emerged as a central leadership figure after the Test careers of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ended, while the selectors also made significant changes to India's T20I leadership.
The committee replaced Suryakumar Yadav with Shreyas Iyer as T20I captain following the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Agarkar publicly pointing to form as an important consideration behind the change.
Such decisions meant the selection committee was not merely choosing squads but helping shape the next phase of the Indian team.
There Were Setbacks Too
Agarkar’s tenure was not defined exclusively by white-ball success.
India suffered a historic 3-0 Test series defeat at home against New Zealand in 2024, ending a 12-year unbeaten run in home Test series.
That was followed by a 3-1 defeat in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Those results added pressure as India attempted to rebuild its Test side while simultaneously planning for major white-ball tournaments.
Why the Timing of Agarkar’s Exit Matters
The timing of the change is significant because India is already building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in southern Africa.
The coming months feature an extensive ODI programme as selectors and team management attempt to establish the core of the World Cup squad.
Workload management is also a major issue. The Indian Express recently reported that the BCCI wants the selectors, team management and Centre of Excellence aligned on player fitness and workload after a series of injury problems.
A new chief selector will therefore inherit more than the routine responsibility of choosing squads.
The next selection leadership will have to manage the transition of senior players, establish India's ODI World Cup combination, coordinate workload decisions and maintain continuity across Test, ODI and T20I teams.
What Happens Next?
The immediate question is when the BCCI will formally confirm Agarkar’s departure and begin or complete the process of appointing his replacement.
Current reporting points towards Parthiv Patel as a prominent candidate, with Pragyan Ojha another name in the discussion, but neither should be described as the confirmed next chief selector until the BCCI makes its decision.
Agarkar, meanwhile, appears set to finish a three-year stint that combined major ICC success with difficult calls involving captaincy, senior players and India's generational transition.
Whoever succeeds him will inherit another high-stakes assignment: helping construct the Indian team that will attempt to challenge for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
