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Ajit Agarkar's tenure as chairman of the BCCI senior men's selection committee came to an end after more than three years, bringing an end to one of the most successful and debated periods for Indian cricket's selection panel.
Agarkar, who took charge in July 2023, was part of an era in which India reached four ICC white-ball finals and won three trophies. His exit also came after growing discussions around selection policy, player transitions and Rohit Sharma's future in ODIs.
"History will be kinder": Gautam Gambhir's message for Ajit Agarkar after exit
India head coach Gautam Gambhir shared an emotional message for Ajit Agarkar after the latter's exit, highlighting the trophies won during their time together and Agarkar's approach to team selection.
"Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first & Team ahead, always.. I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours !!," India head coach Gautam Gambhir wrote on X.
Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first & Team ahead, always.. I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours !! pic.twitter.com/gYQN0fea8X
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 7, 2026
Gambhir's message comes after Agarkar's selection committee oversaw India's successful campaigns at the 2024 T20 World Cup, 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup.
Massive and tough decisions made by Ajit Agarkar as BCCI chief selector
Ajit Agarkar's tenure was defined by several decisions that generated considerable debate. One of the biggest came in 2024 when Suryakumar Yadav was appointed T20I captain ahead of Hardik Pandya. Agarkar pointed to Hardik's fitness record and the need for a captain who would be available consistently, while also citing dressing-room feedback on Suryakumar.
Rinku Singh's omission from India's main 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup was another difficult call. Agarkar described it as one of the toughest decisions the selectors had to make, with Shivam Dube preferred for the team's combination.
The committee was also involved in the decision to leave Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer out of the 2023-24 BCCI central contract list after the domestic cricket issue.
Mohammed Siraj's omission from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad was another major selection call. Rohit Sharma explained that India's uncertainty over Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and the requirement for specific bowling roles influenced the decision.
Ajit Agarkar also played an important role in India's leadership transition. Shubman Gill was backed as a future leader, with dressing-room feedback cited when he continued as vice-captain for the Champions Trophy. Gill was later appointed ODI captain in 2025.
There was also a complicated chapter involving Rohit Sharma's ODI future in 2026. Reports said differences emerged between Agarkar and the BCCI over how Rohit's future should be handled ahead of the 2027 World Cup. The selection committee and other key decision-makers had considered moving on from Rohit, while the BCCI later publicly backed the veteran.
Another major controversy in which Agarkar was involved was with Mohammed Shami, as he kept denying a comeback opportunity to the veteran pacer despite his domestic cricket heroics. Notably, Ajit Agarkar was also not in favour of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback.
Also Read: Ajit Agarkar rejected Bhuvneshwar Kumar's comeback despite RP Singh's request
Ajit Agarkar had a highly successful tenure as BCCI chief selector
Despite the controversies, Agarkar's record as chief selector is difficult to overlook. India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final, won the 2024 T20 World Cup, lifted the 2025 Champions Trophy and then won the 2026 T20 World Cup. That meant his selection committee was associated with four ICC white-ball finals and three titles.
That makes Agarkar's tenure more complicated than simply labelling it successful or controversial. Several of his biggest calls attracted criticism when they were made, but many ultimately formed part of India's transition between two generations.
