Ajit Agarkar has decided not to continue as chairman of the BCCI’s senior men’s selection committee, bringing his three-year stint in the role towards an end.
Agarkar has informed the BCCI of his decision and will leave when his current tenure expires on October 4. The development comes a day after the board’s 95th Annual General Meeting authorised its office-bearers to take a call on the future of the selection committees.
The former India all-rounder took charge in July 2023 and has overseen a significant period for Indian cricket. During his tenure, India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final before winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy. India also retained the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Agarkar’s decision comes amid a period of considerable discussion around India’s selection strategy, particularly concerning the future of Rohit Sharma in ODIs. The selectors had reservations about Rohit’s place in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, while the BCCI subsequently made it clear that the former captain remained part of the team’s thinking.
The latest selection meeting, which picked India’s squads for the West Indies ODIs and T20Is, India A assignments and the Irani Cup, is understood to have been Agarkar’s final meeting in the role. The BCCI will now have to begin the process of finding his successor.
The appointment will come with an important transition period. India are building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup while also navigating the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. The new chairman will therefore inherit selection decisions involving both established players and the next generation.
The BCCI is simultaneously working on the appointment of a new junior selection committee. Secretary Devajit Saikia said the board has received a large number of applications and expects the process of shortlisting and interviews to be completed within 10 to 15 days. All five positions on the current junior panel are due to become vacant.
For now, the BCCI has not formally announced Agarkar’s replacement. Saikia said after the AGM that the board still had time before the end of Agarkar’s tenure and would take a decision at an appropriate time.
Agarkar’s departure will mark the end of a selection tenure that coincided with three ICC title-winning campaigns and a significant reshaping of India’s squads across formats. The next appointment will now inherit the responsibility of taking that transition forward.
