Ajit Agarkar the man behind Cheteshwar Pujara's ouster from Team India- Report shocks Indian cricket

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was reportedly the man responsible for the selection of Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal in the Indian Test team for the recently concluded five-match series against England. With Ishan Kishan sidelined Jurel was picked as the backup wicketkeeper.

On the other hand, Devdutt Padikkal was added to the squad before the third Test as KL Rahul’s replacement. Both the batsmen went on to justify Ajit Agarkar and the team management’s faith in them.

Jurel did not get a chance in the playing eleven for the first two Tests before making his debut in the Rajkot Test. He managed to make a mark straightaway by scoring 46 runs to help India cross the 400-run mark. In the fourth Test, he was adjudged the Player of the Match for playing two brilliant knocks with the bat.

Replying to England’s first innings total of 353, India were reeling at 177 for 7 before Jurel scored 90 runs to help the hosts score 307 runs. In the second innings, India were reduced to 120 for 5 while chasing 192 before Jurel shared an unbeaten 72-run stand with Shubman Gill to take the hosts home.

On the other hand, Padikkal made his debut in the fifth Test in Dharamsala and announced his arrival in Tests by scoring a fine fifty. With the newcomers impressing, the Indian team management has been receiving praise from all over for showing faith in young players. However, a BCCI source has revealed that Ajit Agarkar was the man who suggested Jurel’s name before picking Padikkal as well.

“It was Agarkar who suggested Jurel’s name. The team management wasn’t too confident about him as he was still a rookie. Picking a youngster who hasn’t had much red-ball exposure at the top level straightaway into the Indian side for an important series like England was always going to be a brave call but Agarkar had seen enough to vouch for the youngster,” a BCCI source told Hindustan Times.

Ajit Agarkar ignored Pujara for Padikkal:

The BCCI source further insisted that Cheteshwar Pujara’s name was being considered to add some experience to the batting lineup in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rahul. However, Ajit Agarkar decided against recalling the veteran batsman and handed Padikkal his maiden Test call-up.0

“There was a discussion about Cheteshwar Pujara, who was scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy. The batting line-up literally had no experience. But Agarkar stood firm on looking ahead with Padikkal’s selection. He was present when he hit a fluent 150 in a Ranji Trophy and he believed that his height would come in handy against the inexperienced England spinners,” the source said.