BCCI To Decide Ajit Agarkar's Future As Chief Selector After Sri Lanka Tour

Ajit Agarkar and Devajit Saikia [Source: AFP]

In a recent development, the Indian cricket team could be set for a major discussion over its chief selector panel in the coming days. Notably, Ajit Agarkar, the current chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee, is set to complete his tenure in September 2026. 

However, as India are set to play Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, a new twist could be awaiting Agarkar regarding his tenure in the role after the tour ends.

Will Ajit Agarkar Get Another Tenure Extension After September 2026?

According to a recent report by The Indian Express, BCCI office-bearers will meet Selection Committee Chairman Agarkar to discuss a possible one-year extension of his tenure beyond 2027.

For the unaware, Agarkar will complete three years as chairman in September and is also eligible for a one-year extension under the existing rules.

The Agarkar-led selection committee will be under the spotlight as the BCCI is keen to see him continue in the role until the 2027 World Cup. 

However, a decision is expected soon after the meeting with the former India all-rounder, who took charge of the selection committee in July 2023.

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What could be the roadblock for Ajit Agarkar?

As reported by The Indian Express, Agarkar has made several decisions that are understood to be in line with the BCCI's thinking. One of the most significant was removing Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain and keeping him out of the team's plans for the upcoming World Cup. 

The BCCI, as understood from the report, wants the selectors to assess Rohit's future on a series-by-series basis ahead of the mega ICC tournament. 

The selectors have reportedly conveyed to Rohit that he would not be considered for the 2027 World Cup, while BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later made comments suggesting that “he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things”. The apparent contradiction has reportedly not gone down well with sections of the selection committee.

For Agarkar, this could make the situation particularly complicated. As the chairman of the selection committee, he could potentially bear the brunt of the BCCI's dissatisfaction if the board believes the selectors have moved too far ahead of its thinking on Rohit Sharma's future. 

At the same time, the selectors are expected to continue assessing Rohit on a series-by-series basis, meaning Ajit Agarkar will have to balance the committee's long-term World Cup planning with the BCCI's stance on the former captain.

Did Any Other Selector Get Tenure Extensions From The BCCI?

There have been a very few instances of selectors and selection committee leadership groups receiving extensions from the BCCI. Ajit Agarkar himself is set to be among them, with his tenure likely to be extended following successful tournament cycles.

Other members, including Shiv Sunder Das, S. Sharath, Subroto Banerjee and Ajay Ratra, have gone through standard rotational or term-bound cycles, without major publicly reported multi-year extensions of a similar nature.

Agarkar's tenure has produced significant success, with his panel overseeing India's run to four ICC tournament finals and three major ICC titles. With strong results and relatively smooth squad transitions, the BCCI has backed the selection committee, and a further extension could now be on the cards.

However, selectors were not always treated with the same level of backing. Before Ajit Agarkar, the selection committee led by Chetan Sharma came under significant scrutiny from the BCCI following India's disappointing campaign at the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Similarly, the MSK Prasad-led selection committee faced considerable public and Board scrutiny after India failed to win the 2019 ODI World Cup.

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