Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as the BCCI chief selector has brought immense white-ball success to the Indian team, including three ICC titles (2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups and 2025 Champions Trophy) and two Asia Cups.
While limited-overs results have hogged the limelight, India’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 committee has also come under scrutiny for their selection choices, particularly the continual snubs of Mohammad Shami, Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
Agarkar's contract was set to expire in June 2026, but he was given a three-month extension by the board. It remains to be seen if the former India pacer manages to secure another extension.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, former India opener Wasim Jaffer was asked to describe Agarkar's stint as chief selector. He addressed the query in detail, explaining why the tenure should be considered a successful one.
"I think if you talk about winning, then his tenure has been successful. You are judged by your results, so I believe the trophies we have won speak for themselves. However, how some players have been handled and how some selections have taken place are debatable. There is no doubt about that. There is Mohammad Shami, then Sarfaraz Khan, and we keep mentioning Abhimanyu Easwaran's name. Now Auqib Nabi, who wasn't selected earlier, has been selected as a replacement. These are all things that I feel can be discussed in a negative way. Why are these selections not happening, and why are players not getting clarity?" Jaffer said.
"Otherwise, the way the team has played, especially in white-ball cricket, we have dominated. If we leave out the 2023 World Cup final, India have won the Asia Cup, the Champions Trophy, and then two T20 World Cups back-to-back. So, India have dominated white-ball cricket. We have that kind of talent, and we have dominated white-ball cricket. So, in terms of performances, you would count this stint as a successful one," he added.
Jaffer further stated that Jasprit Bumrah's presence has been a critical factor in India's limited-overs domination since 2023.
"Apart from that, the presence of Jasprit Bumrah gives you an extra edge. We have seen this during the England and Ireland tours. When he is not playing, our bowling looks lacklustre and ordinary. When he plays, our opposition is under pressure. In terms of performance, his stint has been a successful one. I believe all selectors take decisions collectively, although the chairman selector's vote is important. If the chairman puts his foot down, then there is further discussion. Otherwise, everybody is on the same page regarding the selection of a particular player," he remarked.
