BCCI in pressure as Ajit Agarkar eyes big extension after India’s T20 World Cup 2026 success
Published - 19 Mar 2026, 11:09 AM | Updated - 19 Mar 2026, 11:35 AM
Table of Contents
The Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar is eying a longer run at the top after playing a key role in the team’s recent success in the global tournaments. The BCCI had already given Ajit Agarkar one more year before IPL 2025 started, after India’s golden run in ICC events.
The India National Cricket Team lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup and then added the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to their cabinet, and then the 2025 Asia Cup. And most recently, the Men in Blue scripted history by defending the T20 World Cup title.
BCCI faces huge call as Ajit Agarkar pushes for 2027 World Cup stay
Following the remarkable success, Agarkar has himself asked the BCCI to extend his tenure as India’s chief selector. As reported by Times of India, the former Indian pacer asked the board to keep him as chief selector till the 2027 ICC World Cup in the African continent.
Read Also: BCCI secures legal win as Kerala High Court rejects plea over ‘Indian Premier League’ title dispute
Interestingly, the discussions have already taken place among the top brass regarding the request. However, the BCCI President Mithun Manhas, Secretary Devajit Saikia, and Agarkar refuse to comment on the same, as reported by the above-mentioned source.
West Zone player joins the race as Agarkar eyes extension
It is being said that a former India player from West Zone was seen as the main option to replace Ajit Agarkar as the chief selector. But till now, nothing big has happened. Agarkar has asked for a longer stay as chief selector at a time when India are enjoying another ICC title win.
Now, the BCCI has to decide whether to continue with Agarkar or look for a new face to lead the selection committee in the crucial phase where they are preparing for the ICC World Cup 2027 and aiming to the make it to the ICC World Test Championship final after missing in the last season.
Ajit Agarkar's tenure as Chief Selector
Meanwhile, Agarkar became chief selector in June 2023. Since then, India has enjoyed huge success in white-ball cricket. The team won two T20 World Cups, one Champions Trophy, and also the Asia Cup in 2023 and '25. India has looked very strong in ODIs and T20Is during his time.
But the test side has not done well. India lost two home Test series in a row against New Zealand and South Africa and also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia. So, the team's struggle in Test cricket has brought pressure on the head coaches Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future remains unclear
During Ajit Agarkar's stint, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin have retired from Test, with the former captains also stepping away from T20I cricket as well. Ashwin has retired fully. Rohit and Kohli still play ODIs, but no one knows if they will play the 2027 World Cup.
Recently, Agarkar said at the NDTV World Summit 2025: “Look, they [Rohit and Kohli] are part of the squad at the moment for Australia. In two years' time, we don’t know what the situation is going to be. So why just them two? It could be some other younger players [who might miss out on the tournament]. It’s still a long way away. We’ll see how the team shapes up, but we have some ideas, and as we go along, we’ll probably have a better idea of where the team is progressing.”
About the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ...
