Ajit Agarkar's Tenure as India's Chief Selector Ends After Three ICC Titles, BCCI Invites Applications for Successor

Ajit Agarkar has completed his tenure as chairman of the BCCI's senior men's selection committee. His term officially ended on October 4, 2026, after he decided not to seek an extension. He had told the BCCI of that decision after its annual general meeting on September 18.

Agarkar took charge in July 2023, a little over three years ago. His time in the role was one of the most successful periods for Indian white-ball cricket. India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final, then won the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup. That is three ICC trophies in three successive years. Star Sports India's farewell tribute also highlighted two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals during his tenure.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir paid tribute on X, calling it an "absolute honour" to work with Agarkar. He said the three ICC trophies showed Agarkar's conviction of putting the team first, and added that history would be kinder to him.

Agarkar's term was not without criticism. His committee made several headline calls, including picking Suryakumar Yadav over Hardik Pandya as T20I captain after the 2024 World Cup, a decision that led to the 2026 T20 World Cup title. In October 2025, Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma as ODI captain. Test cricket was a tougher area, with a 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand in 2024, a 3-1 loss in Australia and a 2-2 draw in England in 2025.

The BCCI has invited applications for the vacant chairman's position. Pragyan Ojha has taken interim charge and chaired the selection meeting that picked India's squad for the New Zealand tour. The new chief selector will have to balance established players with emerging talent as India plans for the next ICC cycle.

A former India pacer, Agarkar took 288 ODI wickets in 191 matches, more than any Indian bowler apart from Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath.