Indian team's chief selector Ajit Agarkar has decided to step down from his post. Although his tenure is ending on October 4, 2026, he has expressed to the board his desire not to seek further extension and to step down from the post. Just before the 2027 ODI World Cup, the news of Agarkar's separation from the biggest administrative post of Indian cricket has created a stir in the entire cricket world. The main reasons behind this high-profile departure are believed to be the drama over captain Rohit Sharma's future and growing differences with Bengaluru-based Center of Excellence (CoE) chief VVS Laxman.
Rohit Sharma's future and plans for 2027 World Cup
The main reason for the rift between Ajit Agarkar and BCCI was the dispute regarding the future of former captain Rohit Sharma in ODI cricket. Keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar wanted to prepare the team of the future. Agarkar wanted to give opportunity to youth like Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, Rohit's brilliant century of 138 runs in the Lord's ODI against England changed the whole situation.
BCCI's U-turn and Agarkar's displeasure
After Rohit Sharma scored a century at Lord's, BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia issued a public statement. He had said that Rohit will continue to play for India as long as he fits into the team's plans. The board openly supported Rohit in front of the media without taking the chief selector into confidence. According to sources, Ajit Agarkar was very hurt and angry with this U-turn of the board and the decision taken under the pressure of social media.
🚨 THE REASON OF AJIT AGARKAR'S EXIT AS CHIEF SELECTOR 🚨
– The drama surrounding the future of Rohit Sharma and the ever growing differences with CoE head VVS Laxman became the main reasons for Chief selector Ajit Agarkar & the BCCI to part ways ahead of the 2027 WC. (PTI). pic.twitter.com/fdnY0IAqDT
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) September 19, 2026
Policy differences with CoE chief VVS Laxman
Along with the Rohit Sharma controversy, there were also policy differences going on between chief selector Ajit Agarkar and CoE Center of Excellence chief VVS Laxman. There was a tussle between these two giants over many issues, the biggest headache of which was the injury to the players. The selection committee was deeply troubled by the fact that the CoE led by Laxman was completely failing in providing the fitness reports of the injured star players and the exact date of their return.
VVS Laxman was in favor of fielding only the best playing eleven of Team India, whereas Agarkar believed that there was no need to send star players to small tournaments like the Asian Games. Meanwhile, when a highly secret injury list of top players was leaked to the media, the mutual trust between the selection committee and the CoE was completely destroyed.
Agarkar's distance from the review meeting became the final trigger for his departure.
The final turn of this entire drama came when BCCI called an important review meeting in Mumbai after the poor performance against England. Being the chief selector, it was very important for Ajit Agarkar to be present in this meeting, but he did not even participate in it online. Although BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia defended him by saying that he was out of town, a large section of the BCCI considered this to be the last sign of Agarkar's non-cooperation and his strained relations with the board.
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