Indian cricket may soon see a major change. Ajit Agarkar may be stepping down as Team India’s chief selector. Former fast bowler Agarkar’s term was set to expire in June 2026, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had extended it until September 2026. According to reports, his term will not be extended.
VVS Laxman could be appointed as Agarkar’s chief selector. Veteran batsman Laxman currently serves as Head of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). He has also been entrusted with the responsibility of coaching Team India at various times. He recently served as the head coach of the Indian team during the Zimbabwe tour. Now, there is talk of him being appointed as the chief selector.
Why did you lose faith in Agarkar?
Team India has won ICC trophies during Agarkar’s tenure, including two T20 World Cups and one Champions Trophy, since he became chief selector in July 2023. While the decisions made by the selection committee under his leadership have been praised, questions have been raised recently about the team’s selection process.
Additionally, news of Rohit Sharma’s retirement during the England tour has put Agarkar’s position in jeopardy. It was believed that Agarkar would be granted an extension until the 2027 ODI World Cup, but following recent developments, the BCCI is looking to move on from him.
The selection committee, headed by Agarkar, reportedly informed Rohit Sharma that he was not part of the plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. This information was also conveyed to the BCCI high command, but the news leaked to the media, causing an uproar. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had to issue a statement stating that Rohit was not going anywhere at this time. Saikia made this statement without speaking to Agarkar. A decision on Agarkar’s future is expected at the BCCI’s annual meeting in September.
What will be the challenges for Laxman?
If the BCCI appoints Laxman as chief selector, his biggest challenge will be preparing the team for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The issue of whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play in this tournament, jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, must be resolved as quickly as possible. Reports suggest that the team management is reluctant to send Rohit to the World Cup, but under pressure from social media, the BCCI’s top brass is changing its strategy.
Kohli’s place is somewhat unthreatened, but Rohit’s advancing age is hindering him. Whenever there’s any talk of trying a younger player in Rohit’s place, the board, coach, and chief selector face so much trolling on social media that the decision has to be put on hold. Laxman will be well aware of this. He will have to prepare hard for how to handle this situation. He will also have to be prepared for social media trolls.
Test team needs to improve
The Indian Test team is currently going through a rough patch. Late last year, Team India suffered a clean sweep at the hands of South Africa in a home Test series. Prior to that, New Zealand whitewashed the Indian team in 2024. The team also failed to reach the final of the last World Championship. Questions were raised about the selection committee not including the right players in the squad, leading to the team’s defeat. Laxman will have to rectify this shortcoming and manage the players’ workload properly. Currently, Team India is grappling with injuries to star players.