Ajit Agarkar named India men’s chairman of selectors

Ajit Agarkar, the former India fast bowler, has been named chairman of selectors for the Indian men’s team. Agarkar who is currently 45, filled the position which had been vacant since February after Chetan Sharma stepped down beacuse of a sting operation conducted on him by ZEE News which is an Indian television network.

Agarkar is the fifth member of the India men’s selection panel which already includes Shiv Sundar Das, Salil Ankola, Subroto Banerjee and S Sharath. Ajit Agarkar represented India for almost years 9 years in which he played 26 tests, 191 ODIs and 4 T20Is and now is the senior-most member of the panel and as per BCCI rules becomes its chairman. The first of many challenge for Agarkar will be selecting  the squad for the five T20Is against West Indies starting August 3.

Agarkar, it is understood, was the unanimous choice of the three-person Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ashok Malhotra, Sulakshana Naik and Jatin Paranjape, which conducted the interviews on Monday. It could not be confirmed whether Agarkar was the solitary applicant for the position for which the BCCI had advertised, with June 30 as the deadline.

Agarkar has already done the same job for around 2 years but at a smaller level in the Mumbai cricket association from 2017-2019. Ajit Agarkar as Mumbai chief selector took some bold calls during his stint. Dropped many big-name players from the squad over poor form (the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Akhil Herwadkar, Aditya Tare, Arman Jaffer, etc). Such bold calls irked MCA members, who were on the verge of sacking the entire selection committee before the Agarkar-led panel resigned. Agarkar has also been with the coaching staff of the IPL team Delhi Capitals.

India are in a transition phase and maybe will require such bold calls and one of the key advantages that Agarkar brings to the role is his fresh perspective. Having recently retired from professional cricket, he understands the challenges faced by modern-day players, the demands of the game, and the intricacies of team dynamics. Agarkar’s experience as a successful all-rounder provides him with valuable insights into both batting and bowling aspects, allowing for a more comprehensive evaluation of players.

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Harsha Bhogle on Ajit Agarkar being appointed as the new chairman “I will tell you one thing about Ajit Agarkar as selector. He will be diligent and honest. He might have strong opinions but they will come from a position of strength. I think it is a very good move.”

Ajit Agarkar’s appointment as the new Chairman of the Selection Committee brings renewed hope and anticipation for the future of Indian cricket. With his vast experience, fresh perspective, and a commitment to nurturing young talent. The cricket enthusiasts eagerly await for his vision and bold strategic decisions which could possibly end the ICC trophy drought of the Indian Cricket Team.