Indian men’s cricket team’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar’s future has come under scrutiny, with speculation growing that the BCCI may not offer him another extension when his current tenure ends
in September 2026. If the board decides against renewing his contract, former India batter VVS Laxman has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed him.
According to a Dainik Jagran report, developments during India’s recent tour of England have prompted the BCCI to reconsider extending Agarkar‘s tenure until the 2027 ODI World Cup, an outcome that had previously been considered likely.
The controversy surrounding Rohit Sharma’s ODI future during the England tour is understood to have not gone down well with senior BCCI officials, triggering fresh discussions over the selection committee’s leadership.
However, no final decision has been taken. The matter is expected to be discussed in greater detail at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September, where Agarkar’s future is likely to be reviewed.
Extension Still A Possibility
An extension for Agarkar is not entirely off the table. India’s upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka is expected to be significant in shaping the board’s assessment, with the former India pacer himself keen to continue as chief selector until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Agarkar’s tenure has been both eventful and successful. Since taking charge in 2023, he has overseen one of the most successful phases in Indian cricket, with the men’s team winning three ICC titles – the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups, along with the 2025 Champions Trophy.
His selection committee has also managed a major transition across formats, overseeing the retirements of stalwarts including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (Tests and T20Is), Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ravindra Jadeja (T20Is) while giving chances to several newcomers and top performers in domestic circuit.
Meanwhile, Laxman currently serves as the Head of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and is regarded as one of the architects of India’s player development pathway. He recently served as the interim head coach for India’s T20I series in Zimbabwe while Gautam Gambhir was rested.
