Under fire over sports app remark, Ajit Agarkar makes on-ground visit to SMAT match

Amid ‘sports app’ controversy, Ajit Agarkar personally checks in on domestic cricket. (Photo: X)

Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector for the Indian men's cricket team, was seen on Friday watching a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 match between Jharkhand and Karnataka. Agarkar was criticized for missing domestic matches, and an official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the strange claim that he follows the games on apps.

Since India lost the two-match Test series to South Africa 0-2 in Guwahati earlier this week, Agarkar, who has consistently participated in India's international trips, has come under fire. Under Agarkar's leadership as the BCCI chief selector for the men's cricket team, it was India's second consecutive whitewash Test series loss in a single year.

Also Read | 'He is ageing in reverse': Rohit Sharma’s weight-loss transformation photo breaks the internet

While Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who have mediocre numbers in the Ranji Trophy, have been promoted to the national team, Agarkar is being questioned about the exclusion of Test specialists and proven domestic performers like Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Karun Nair from the Indian squad.

There have also been concerns raised about Agarkar's absence from domestic games. His most recent significant Ranji Trophy game was the Chennai match between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in 2024. He has hardly ever been spotted at these events. However, he traveled to Australia and England with Team India.

Agarkar's absence from Ranji Trophy games, however, has been justified by a BCCI official using the ludicrous justification that he may monitor the scores on apps. Following yet another Test fiasco at home, the BCCI official has also confirmed that the board will meet with the selectors, including Agarkar.

WATCH VIDEO - ‘Mere against jaa nahi to domestic khelta reh jaega’: Chahal’s IPL advice to Ravi Bishnoi goes viral

“We will speak to the selectors too (on the Test debacle), and as far as watching domestic games is concerned, every score comes on the app,” a Times of India report quoted a BCCI official as saying.

SunRisers Bowling Coach Varun Aaron at the Narendra Modi Stadium with the GT management & Ajit Agarkar at the SMAT Games. What’s cooking, @VarunAaron? Bowlers Who’ve Done Well At Ahmedabad Today: K. Nagarkoti: 3/34 (4) V. Saha: 2/27 (4) J. Suchith: 3/20 (4) S. Yadav: 2/29… pic.twitter.com/BBfOZUjwpo

— Varun Velamakanti  (@CricVarunSRH) November 28, 2025

Notably, while Agarkar was a Mumbai selector, he was then also accused of not attending games.

However, Agarkar was seen on Friday watching the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 match, which Jharkhand won, in the stands of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Jharkhand successfully chased down the 158-run goal thanks to Anukul Roy's unbeaten 95 and two wickets.