Ajit Agarkar’s successful stint as chairman of the national senior men’s selection committee wasn’t smooth and often marked by controversies.
The former India all-rounder also had to fend off the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s interference in selection matters.
The Telegraph understands the disagreement started as early as his second meeting in July 2023 when Agarkar opposed Jasprit Bumrah’s elevation as captain for the Ireland tour. The fast bowler was coming back from an almost year-long hiatus as a tune-up to the ODI World Cup at home.
Agarkar wanted Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had been named captain for the 2023 Asian Games, to lead in Ireland to reduce Bumrah’s workload, but the Board stepped in and ruled in favour of the pace spearhead. The BCCI’s contention was that Bumrah was keen to lead and hence should be given the opportunity.
That was the starting point and it continued on several occasions over the next three years. Those in the know say that Agarkar has always backed his intuitions and refused to pay heed to outside noise.
While it reached a flashpoint over the Rohit Sharma issue, he had also been
critical of the functioning of the VVS Laxman-headed Centre of Excellence in
selection meetings.
The BCCI has refused to acknowledge, but it is now confirmed that Agarkar will not continue as chief selector. His exit has triggered a debate over the circumstances which led to this predicament – was it the BCCI who wanted Agarkar to leave, or did the chief selector himself not want an extension?
Sources told The Telegraph that the BCCI wasn’t keen on Agarkar’s continuance but was dilly-dallying on their intentions. The Rohit saga at Lord’s in July had left him with a bitter experience – the Board intervened after the former captain was told it would be his last ODI – and having read the script, Agarkar informed that he wasn’t keen on carrying on.
That provided the BCCI with an escape route to begin their search for a new candidate. The Board was saved the ignominy of having to tell Agarkar anything.
There is talk that Agarkar’s absence from the review meeting in Mumbai was a blessing in disguise since it could have led to a war of words with Laxman over the COE’s functioning. The former teammates were poles apart when it came to strategic decisions and players’ rehabilitation. The recurring injuries have been a major hindrance in the team’s planning and was one of the most discussed topics during the high-profile conclave earlier this month.
However, it is also true that the BCCI gave him a free hand in dealing with several issues, including the Test retirements of Rohit and Virat Kohli. Agarkar even dropped T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav on India’s next assignment.