Two days after announcing India squad for the Asia Cup 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reposed strong faith in Ajit Agarkar by appointing him as chairman of selectors till June 2026. The extension has been reported to have been completed earlier, prior to the 2025 IPL.
Agarkar’s Leadership During Transitional Phase
The Indian Express notes that the board had decided to keep Agarkar months earlier, which signifies its contentment with the way he has gone about managing a very crucial transitional phase. Since taking over in June 2023, India has won and lost in the same measure and Agarkar has had to balance the old guard with the new recruits.
Under his control, India ended a 30-year streak of not having won an ICC event, with India winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy early 2025. The side also made it to the ODI World Cup final in their home soil in 2023, indicating that Agarkar was able to strike a balance between the results and rebuilding of the team.
Strategic Captaincy and Player Transitions
The tenure of Agarkar has been characterized by the changes in strategic leadership. The selection committee also handed Shubman Gill the Test captaincy with Suryakumar Yadav becoming T20I captain. At the same time, India has controlled gradual retirement of such legends as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Kohli and Rohit are now ODI players only and Ashwin has retired altogether.
The existing panel is comprised of SS Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra and S Sharath in addition to Agarkar. But it has been reported that this may change at the annual general body meeting of the BCCI in September. Sharath, who has been heading the junior selection committee, will most probably be replaced since he is close to the four-year term limit.
Potential Committee Changes Ahead
It is quite possible that the BCCI will invite fresh applications to fill the position of Sharath, but the future of Das and Banerjee remains uncertain. The authorities seem generally contented with the current team, and only some slight changes could be done, perhaps only one position.
Applications will also be invited to senior women and junior men selection committees. Neetu David, chair of the women panel and Arati Vaidya and Mithu Mukherjee will have their five-year terms expire this season. The junior panel, which includes Thilak Naidu, Ranadeb Bose, Harvinder Singh Sodhi, Pathik Patel and Krishen Mohan, may also need an overhaul before an intense international schedule.
Now that Agarkar has been extended and committees have been set to selectively reform, the BCCI is setting a sign of stability before the next challenges of the men and women game.
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