No extension: Ajit Agarkar’s future to be decided after September 2026
Published - 20 Mar 2026, 01:35 PM | Updated - 20 Mar 2026, 02:55 PM
Table of Contents
Ajit Agarkar’s future as India’s chief selector will be decided once his tenure ends in September 2026. The BCCI is not in a hurry to make any call and denied the reports that Ajit Agarkar requested the extension following India’s T20 World Cup 2026 success.
Agarkar became chairman of selectors in 2023. Later, in 2025, the former Indian pacer’s term was extended by one year after India’s back-to-back success in the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025. His current contract is set to end in September 2026.
Ajit Agarkar’s extension request put on hold till September 2026
Well, Ajit Agarkar now wants to stay till the 2027 ODI World Cup as the chief selector, but as per the rules, a senior selector can continue for up to four years. So, the matter is likely to be discussed only after his present term ends later this year, and that’s when the call will be taken.
But a senior BCCI official, who refused to reveal his identity, has clearly said the rumors of Ajit Agarkar seeking an extension are not true. He said there has been no such discussion so far, and any talk on this matter will happen only after Agarkar’s term ends in September 2026.
The BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI: “The selection panel is a subcommittee of the BCCI, and the selectors' contract runs till September this year. Ajit's contract ends in September, and after that, the BCCI secretary and Ajit Agarkar will have to decide whether he will continue till next year's ODI World Cup. A senior selector can continue for up to four years as per the constitution, and he doesn't need to seek an extension.”
India begin ICC World Cup 2027 planning as selectors shortlist 20 players
Meanwhile, India has started planning for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2027, and the upcoming IPL 2026 will play a big role in it. The selectors have reportedly shortlisted around 20 players for the ICC World Cup 2027. The tournament is still far away, but the board does not want to wait too long.
Read Also: Sanjiv Goenka’s cryptic post ignites Rishabh Pant rift rumours before IPL 2026
They now want to watch these players closely during IPL 2026 and check who is performing well. So, the upcoming league will be very important for many Indian cricketers. The selection panel, which includes SS Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra, and Pragyan Ojha, will follow the tournament very closely.
IPL 2026 set to become trial ground
The report also said the selectors are unlikely to select the squad keeping in mind the LA Olympics or the T20 World Cup 2028 while watching players in the IPL 2026.
The source said, “The BCCI is looking at each selector watching at least one game per week, which covers five games per week from the venue. Else, obviously, they can track on TV.”
IPL 2026 will kick off on March 28 with the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
About the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ...
