Ajit Agarkar gets BCCI nod until 2026, selection shake-up on the horizon

Ajit Agarkar is the current head of BCCI men's selection committee (AP Photo)

Ajit Agarkar will remain at the helm of Indian cricket’s selection process until June 2026, after the BCCI extended his contract as chairman of selectors. The move comes just days after India’s Asia Cup squad was announced and signals the board’s confidence in the 46-year-old’s ability to steer the team through a crucial transitional phase. While the extension was confirmed on Thursday, officials say the decision had been taken well before the 2025 IPL.

A Tenure of Trophies and Transition

Since stepping into the role in June 2023, the former India pacer has overseen one of the most eventful chapters in recent memory. India broke a long drought in global tournaments, clinching the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The ODI World Cup of 2023 ended in heartbreak with a final defeat, but that campaign too was widely seen as a sign of renewal.

Equally significant has been Agarkar’s handling of leadership changes. The selectors under him entrusted the Test reins to Shubman Gill, while Suryakumar Yadav was given charge of the T20I side. Alongside, the panel has managed the phased exits of stalwarts — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma now play only ODIs, while Ravichandran Ashwin has retired completely from all international formats.

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Panel Changes Likely

While Agarkar’s position is secure, the same cannot be said for every member of his committee. The current panel features SS Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra and S Sharath. At the BCCI’s annual general meeting in September, Sharath is expected to step aside as he nears the four-year cap permitted for selectors. He had earlier chaired the junior panel before joining the senior ranks in 2023.

The board is preparing to invite fresh applications for his replacement, though insiders suggest the remaining members are likely to continue, given the overall satisfaction with their performance.

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Wider Reshuffle on the Cards

Beyond the men’s senior committee, the BCCI will also open doors for new appointments in the women’s and junior panels. Neetu David, chair of the women’s selectors, along with Arati Vaidya and Mithu Mukherjee, complete their five-year terms this season. The junior panel, which includes Thilak Naidu, Ranadeb Bose, Harvinder Singh Sodhi, Pathik Patel and Krishen Mohan, could also undergo changes as discussions continue over a refresh.

With Agarkar set to continue until 2026, Indian cricket has stability at the top. But the coming months promise churn across selection committees as the board looks to prepare for another demanding international cycle.