India won two T20 World Cups, a Champions Trophy, two Asia Cups under Agarkar's tenure.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) top brass has remained silent on chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s future. A report has stated that the ex-India pacer is prepping a thank-you note for the board officials after the selection meeting for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, which might turn out to be his last.
Agarkar was hoping for an extension on his tenure as chief BCCI selector, especially after three consecutive successes in India's white-ball format under him. Agarkar was chosen chairman of the selection committee in July 2023.
India has since lost only two matches in an ICC white-ball competition, against South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup final, en route to winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026, as well as the Champions Trophy in 2025. Not to mention that India went unbeaten in their Asia Cup campaign last year in Dubai.
He was also at the helm as the Indian team went through a huge transition in Test cricket, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R. Ashwin retiring last year.
The BCCI later extended Agarkar's contract till October 4 after it had originally expired in June of this year. However, the former India bowler has requested an extension till October, when the ODI World Cup ends the next year.
Agarkar's argument for an extension, however, was nearly undermined by recent events that revealed he disagreed with senior BCCI officials.
As per PTI, no BCCI official has contacted the selection committee chairman yet, and the meeting for the West Indies series might be his final.
The PTI report also revealed that Agarkar told sources close to him that "after the West Indies team selection, he is likely to mail a thank you note to secretary Devajit Saikia for BCCI giving him an opportunity to work for three years."
There was supposedly to be a discussion about Agarkar's future during a BCCI review meeting earlier this month in Mumbai, but he wasn't present for personal reasons.
“Today he was out of town. He was unable to join the meeting because it was called on short notice and our head of the selection committee was out of town. He was in such an area that he could not join online also, in spite of all these efforts,” Saikia told reporters on September 3.
There have been rumors that Agarkar, his committee, and the BCCI top officials have not been on the same page on former captain Rohit Sharma’s future with the 2027 ICC World Cup in mind.
Saikia twice expressed his support in the media, suggesting that Rohit has the support of BCCI leaders, which did not sit well with the selectors, who have been categorical that Rohit does not fit into their strategy for the 2027 World Cup. The player was also informed of this.
There are several rumors that the current head of the CoE, former India batter VVS Laxman, may take Agarkar's place as the next chairman of the selection committee.
(PTI inputs)