Revealed: Why VVS Laxman Won't Replace Ajit Agarkar As India's Chief Selector

Laxman has said no to the chief selector's job [Source: AFP]

BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on September 18, and the day could determine Ajit Agarkar’s future as India's chief selector. The BCCI held an emergency performance review meeting on Thursday, and Devajit Saikia said no discussion of Agarkar’s future took place.

There are also talks that the BCCI is waiting to hear from Agarkar before inviting applications for the post of Chief selector. The former Indian cricketer was also not present at the BCCI meeting on Thursday, which added fuel to the fire that he might not be in the scheme of things for the future.

If Agarkar’s tenure is not extended, the BCCI has reportedly favoured CoE head VVS Laxman as the ideal replacement, but the former Indian cricketer is not interested in the role.

Revealed why VVS Laxman is not interested in replacing Agarkar

According to reports by The Telegraph India, a section of the BCCI members want a new Chief selector, and Laxman has emerged as the first-choice. However, there is a catch: the CoE head is not interested in replacing Ajit Agarkar.

Reportedly, Laxman is not interested in any role that involves too much travelling, and the chief selector’s role is to go to every domestic match and scout players to be selected in the Indian team.

If the 51-year-old rejects the role, then Parthiv Patel and Zaheer Khan are the other names doing the rounds.

Also Read: BCCI Rules Out VVS Laxman's Appointment, Ajit Agarkar Kept Hanging

Saikia also dismissed any new position for Laxman, such as director of cricket, at least for now.

BCCI is still keen to give Laxman a bigger role

The legendary Indian batter is happy with his current role as the CoE head, where he looks after the operations, but getting a bigger role within the BCCI has not been ruled out.

The BCCI is keen on giving him a role where he enjoys supreme authority, besides looking after the CoE. In such a role, the captains, coaches, and the chief selector will be answerable to him.

There is also a growing belief that Laxman’s involvement in the Indian team will help in communicating better with senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, especially since both of them have been kept in the dark regarding their place in the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Laxman made India head coach for the Asian Games 2026

On Thursday, BCCI made the news official that Laxman has been appointed the Indian head coach for the upcoming Asian Games. 

The marquee event will collide with India’s home series against the West Indies in late September, and hence, Gautam Gambhir will look after the white-ball matches against the Windies, and Laxman will take charge of the Asian Games squad.

The Indian great has prior experience of coaching the Indian team in Gambhir’s absence, and he will once again take charge of the team in Asia’s biggest event.

Also, right after becoming the head coach, the BCCI fulfilled Laxman’s first major demand, as three net bowlers: Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Kartik Tyagi have been roped in to help the Indian batters until the tournament starts.

Also Read: Ajit Agarkar Deputed Away From Indian Team, Other Selectors To Oversee IND vs AFG T20Is