Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of the senior selection panel appears to be nearing its conclusion. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not issued a formal confirmation, indications following Friday’s Annual General Meeting suggest he is unlikely to retain his position for an extended period. His current contract is set to expire on October 4.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that leadership has been authorized to resolve the matter shortly. Regarding the timeline, Saikia stated, “We still have 15 days to go. Fifteen days is a long time in the world of cricket. We have time. We will make a decision and, at the appropriate time, we will let you know.” He added that the board is fully aware of his retirement date and intends to finalize a decision within this 15-day window.
Speculation regarding Agarkar’s future intensified following a selection meeting in Delhi held to determine squads for the West Indies ODIs, the Irani Cup, and the India A team. Although the proceedings concluded without open conflict, reports surfaced suggesting it may have been his final session. Questions about his leadership role have persisted since the episode involving Rohit Sharma ahead of the Lord’s ODI, where selectors reportedly informed the former captain he was no longer in their plans before the BCCI intervened.
Agarkar previously faced scrutiny for his absence from a review meeting earlier this month, which was convened to analyze India’s recent tour of the UK. Despite the board downplaying the incident, rumors regarding his status have remained prominent. Should the BCCI decide to move on, the process would require them to officially advertise, interview, and appoint a successor. Current projections point to former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel as a leading candidate for the role, with Pragyan Ojha—the selector with the most Test experience—potentially serving in an interim capacity. The report also notes that the office-bearers of the BCCI have been authorised to take a call on the matter and secretary Devajit Saikia said there is some more time left to decide. “We still have 15 days to go. The report also notes that but somewhere along the way, talk emerged that it could be his last meeting, sources said the meeting went ahead without any apparent disruption.
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