Agarkar was previously favored for an extension through the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly reconsidering an extension for chief selector Ajit Agarkar due to internal friction over selection choices leaked during India’s recent tour of England, Dainik Jagran reported on Wednesday (August 5).
While it was initially expected that BCCI would extend Agarkar's contract until the 2027 World Cup, a breakdown in communication between the selection committee and senior players has put his position under review.
If the board decides against renewing his contract, legendary India batter VVS Laxman has emerged as the front-runner to succeed him. Laxman is currently serving as the head of the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru and has often stepped in as India's stand-in coach when the primary coach is rested.
According to the report, controversy over Rohit Sharma's future in ODI cricket and leaked retirement timelines during the England tour left the BCCI officials furious.
Rumours surfaced during the England tour that the selection committee had discussed dropping Rohit from future ODI assignments and that the Lord's match would be his last. After the veteran opener slammed a century in that game, the narrative backfired, prompting BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia to issue a public statement confirming Sharma's long-term spot in the team.
The ultimate decision regarding the chief selector's position will be reviewed and finalized during the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 2026, the report claimed.
Report also indicates that Agarkar could still potentially secure his spot through the 2027 World Cup if the Indian team delivers a dominant performance in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15 in Galle.
Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as India's chief selector has brought immense white-ball success, including three ICC titles (2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups and 2025 Champions Trophy) and two Asia Cups. While limited-overs results have been historic, the team’s graph has gone down considerably in Test cricket, suffering clean sweeps at the hands of New Zealand and South Africa in home series.
The Agarkar-led selection panel has also managed a major transition phase, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli stepping away from Tests and T20Is, alongside red-ball exits for Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane.