Ajit Agarkar’s Report Card: Three ICC Titles, Bold Decisions and Questions Over His Tenure
Ajit Agarkar leaves as India’s chief selector with three ICC trophies, several high-profile selection calls and an enduring debate over his handling of senior players and his authority within Indian cricket.
Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as India’s chief selector ended on October 4, 2026, with an impressive record of three ICC titles: the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup. India also reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Yet his time in the role was defined by more than trophies. Decisions involving Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli repeatedly put him under scrutiny, raising questions about the timing of transitions, the selectors’ authority and how cricketing calls were communicated.
One of Agarkar’s boldest decisions was backing Suryakumar Yadav over Hardik Pandya as India’s T20I captain after Rohit’s retirement in 2024. Suryakumar subsequently led India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title, vindicating the selection committee’s decision.
However, the transition involving India’s senior batters proved more contentious. While Rohit and Kohli’s difficult run of form strengthened the case for rebuilding, former chief selector MSK Prasad believed Kohli could have continued playing Test cricket for another two years.
Agarkar also faced criticism over the Shubman Gill experiment in T20Is. Gill was eventually dropped ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Ishan Kishan brought into the squad. India’s subsequent triumph suggested the revised combination had worked.
Sports commentators offered a mixed assessment, describing Agarkar as a strong selector who sometimes appeared rigid but was also willing to learn from mistakes.
His tenure ultimately combined conviction, course corrections and controversy. Three ICC titles make a compelling case for success, but debates over senior-player transitions remain unresolved.
Perhaps Agarkar’s legacy will depend on whether Indian cricket can judge selectors by the teams they build, rather than the superstars their decisions disappoint.
