A fallout over Rohit Sharma's ODI future was a primary catalyst behind chief selector Ajit Agarkar ending his tenure with the BCCI ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, news agency PTI reported.
The selection committee, headed by Agarkar, had reportedly decided alongside team management to phase out Rohit from the 50-over setup following the Lord's ODI against England in July. South Zone selector Pragyan Ojha, a close friend of Rohit, was tasked with communicating that he was not in the long-term roadmap for the quadrennial event.
However, the veteran expressed his strong grievances to a powerful BCCI administrator. The board subsequently intervened and urged Agarkar to go slow, pointing out that Rohit was scoring runs consistently.
On the other hand, Agarkar believed the spot should instead go to young Yashasvi Jaiswal, who required a continuous run of about 20 ODIs to properly settle into the opening role. The chairman of selectors was also wary of ageing Rohit’s effectiveness on South African pitches.
Shortly after, the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia bypassed the selection committee entirely and released a statement firmly backing Rohit, dismissing any immediate retirement talk. This public overriding left Agarkar feeling heavily undermined.
"That was perhaps the day when Ajit knew that it would be very difficult for him to continue. In fact, he had no inkling that a media statement was issued by the BCCI. He understood that going forward, the call on big names won't be his prerogative," a senior BCCI official privy to the development told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Beyond the fallout over Rohit, Agarkar also faced an ever-growing rift with VVS Laxman, the head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).
The two former teammates were reportedly poles apart regarding structural policy decisions, including the management and rehabilitation timelines for centrally contracted injured players and the scheduling overlaps between India 'A' matches and domestic competitions like the Irani Cup.
"If you think that VVS Laxman's urge to win at all costs is anything less than, say, a Virat Kohli or a Sourav Ganguly, then you are mistaken. Whatever the competition, Laxman always wanted the best eleven to play," a former state team coach who has seen Laxman operate from close quarters at the COE, told PTI.
Moreover, the decision to utilize first-team players in the Asian Games, which is considered a two-tier cricket event, left Agarkar disappointed.
The definitive breaking point occurred following India's recent series defeat against England. The BCCI convened a high-profile review meeting in Mumbai to map out strategic plans, but Agarkar failed to attend in person or join virtually. While board officials stated the meeting was called on short notice, the absence was widely viewed internally as the final indicator of an unresolvable rift.
Ajit Agarkar's formal contract concludes on October 4, 2026. Realizing that the board was unlikely to offer an extension, Agarkar proactively communicated that he did not wish to continue.
The BCCI has initiated a search for a new chief selector, with former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel currently emerging as the front-runner to take charge.
