New Delhi: Few chief selectors in Indian cricket history have divided opinion quite like Ajit Agarkar. Deep into his tenure, the former India pacer’s report card is a study in bold, often bruising decision-making – the kind that wins tournaments and starts arguments in equal measure.
Agarkar took charge promising clarity and courage. On both counts, he has delivered – though not every call has landed softly. Here is a look at the defining decisions of his time at the helm.
Suryakumar over Hardik: the captaincy gamble
The first big shock came when Suryakumar Yadav was named India’s T20I captain ahead of Hardik Pandya, the natural heir apparent. The reasoning was two-fold: Hardik’s long history of fitness breakdowns made him a risky long-term bet, and feedback from within the dressing room pointed firmly towards Suryakumar’s calm, inclusive leadership style.
Rinku’s World Cup heartbreak
No decision hurt more than leaving Rinku Singh out of the 2024 T20 World Cup squad. The left-hander had done little wrong, but the selectors preferred Shivam Dube’s spin-hitting muscle for the slow Caribbean tracks. It is widely regarded as the toughest call of Agarkar’s tenure, and the one that drew the loudest backlash.
The logic was conditions-specific rather than a verdict on Rinku’s ability – but for a player who had become a national favourite, the explanation was cold comfort.
The contract message: Kishan and Iyer
When Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were dropped from the 2023-24 central contracts list, the message was unmistakable: no one is bigger than domestic cricket. Kishan had skipped Ranji Trophy duty despite being asked to play; Iyer’s red-ball commitment was questioned.
Siraj’s Champions Trophy omission
Mohammed Siraj’s absence from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad stunned many. The decision was framed by the uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness – with the spearhead’s availability in doubt, the selectors reshaped the pace attack rather than carrying a like-for-like backup, a move that split opinion down the middle.
Backing Gill, questioning Rohit
Agarkar’s committee anointed Shubman Gill as the future leader early, and by 2025 he was India’s ODI captain. The harder conversation was around Rohit Sharma’s ODI future – by 2026, differences between the selectors and the BCCI over how long Rohit should continue had become one of Indian cricket’s worst-kept secrets.
The doors that stayed shut: Shami and Bhuvi
Mohammed Shami’s domestic heroics were not enough to earn a comeback, with the selectors unconvinced his body would hold up at the highest level. And despite a growing clamour, Agarkar’s panel long resisted recalling Bhuvneshwar Kumar – a stance only reversed for the New Zealand T20Is, and not without internal debate.
Love him or question him, Agarkar has never hidden behind safe choices. Indian cricket’s direction for the next cycle will be defined by these calls – for better or worse.
Read also: Ishan Kishan in contention for NZ Tests | Karthik hails Bhuvi recall | Rohit, Kohli’s wait for next ODI
