An objective look at Ajit Agarkar’s major selection decisions, successes and areas of concern.
Ajit Agarkar became chairman of the BCCI’s Senior Men’s Selection Committee in July 2023. Since then, India have won the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup, while also reaching the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Reference: BCCI – Ajit Agarkar appointed Chairman of Senior Men’s Selection Committee
That record makes Agarkar’s tenure look extremely successful. But a chief selector should not be judged only by trophies. Selection is also about squad balance, conditions, succession planning, player development and difficult calls.
Ajit Agarkar’s Selection Era at a Glance
| Tournament | Result | Selection Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 ODI World Cup | Runner-up | Strong squad, but much of the squad-building had already happened |
| 2024 T20 World Cup | Champion | Experienced core and balanced options worked |
| 2025 Champions Trophy | Champion | Excellent bowling and spin depth |
| 2026 T20 World Cup | Champion | Bold combination decisions delivered |
How Should Agarkar Be Judged?
The chief selector does not pick a team in isolation. The selection committee, captain, head coach, medical team and support staff can all influence a selection decision.
Therefore, Agarkar should be judged on the overall quality and consistency of the selection committee’s work during his tenure, rather than on every individual decision being personally attributed to him.
2023 ODI World Cup: A Strong Team, But Not Entirely Agarkar’s Work
Agarkar took over as chairman in July 2023, only a few months before the ODI World Cup. India subsequently reached the final after winning all nine league matches and beating New Zealand in the semi-final.
However, it would be unfair to treat the entire 2023 World Cup squad as Agarkar’s personal selection achievement. Much of the team structure had already been developed before he took charge.
The better conclusion is that Agarkar inherited a strong setup and helped maintain stability rather than completely building that World Cup team himself.
2024 T20 World Cup: Selection Strategy Worked
India entered the 2024 T20 World Cup with an experienced core featuring Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, while also having younger and flexible options.
India went on to win the tournament without losing a match, beating South Africa by seven runs in the final.
Reference: ICC – India vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Final
The selection strategy deserves significant credit here. India backed experience in a high-pressure tournament and maintained enough flexibility to adjust combinations during the competition.
2025 Champions Trophy: Bowling Depth Became a Major Strength
India remained unbeaten in the 2025 Champions Trophy and defeated New Zealand in the final to win the title.
Reference: ICC – India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy Final
The bowling combination was particularly effective. Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakravarthy both finished with nine wickets and were selected in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
Reference: ICC – Champions Trophy 2025 Team of the Tournament
This is one of the clearest examples of selection and tournament conditions working together. India had enough pace, spin and variety to handle different match situations.
2026 T20 World Cup: Another Bold Combination Paid Off
India went into the 2026 T20 World Cup with several selection calls that showed a willingness to move beyond older combinations.
The result was historic. India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in Ahmedabad to win the 2026 T20 World Cup, becoming the first team to win consecutive men’s T20 World Cup titles.
Reference: ICC – India vs New Zealand, 2026 T20 World Cup Final
Players such as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan also made important contributions during the campaign. The final result strongly supports the argument that the selection group got the overall combination right.
The Shubman Gill Question
One of the biggest selection debates during Agarkar’s tenure has been the decision to leave Shubman Gill out of certain T20 World Cup combinations.
Gill’s omission should not automatically be interpreted as a judgement on his ability. A player can be good enough for international cricket and still not be the best fit for a particular 15-man squad.
Team balance, batting positions, wicketkeeping options and the combination of players available can all affect such decisions.
The Mohammed Shami Debate
Mohammed Shami’s selection has been another complicated issue. Fitness and workload concerns have been part of the discussion around his availability and selection.
This is an area where caution is necessary. Fitness-based selection can involve medical assessments, workload management, match readiness, team combination and the selection committee’s judgement.
Therefore, it would be too simplistic to blame Agarkar alone for Shami’s exclusion. At the same time, clearer communication around fitness-related selection decisions would make the process easier for fans to understand.
Experience vs Youth
One of the more interesting aspects of Agarkar’s tenure has been the balance between experienced players and younger talent.
India continued to trust senior players when their experience mattered, while also giving opportunities to players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma.
That balance is important because a successful selection committee has to win now while also preparing the next generation.
Where Agarkar Has Done Best
- Major tournament results: India’s white-ball record during his tenure is exceptional.
- Squad flexibility: India have generally had multiple options for different conditions.
- Bowling depth: The Champions Trophy showed the value of having both pace and spin options.
- Youth integration: Younger players have continued to enter the national setup without completely abandoning experienced players.
- Bold decisions: Some difficult combination calls have produced successful results.
Where Can the Selection Committee Improve?
- Test planning: Red-ball cricket requires longer-term succession planning and reliable backups.
- Communication: Fitness and selection decisions can be explained more clearly.
- Senior-player management: Managing the transition from an experienced core to the next generation will become increasingly important.
- Consistency: Selection policies need to remain understandable across different formats and series.
How METRET Scored Agarkar
METRET’s rating does not simply count trophies. The score considers selection quality, squad construction, major tournament performance, youth development, Test planning, senior-player management, communication and consistency.
Each category is scored out of 10 and given a fixed weight. The final score is a weighted average. Controversial decisions are judged using available evidence and context, rather than automatically assigning individual blame to the chief selector.
Ajit Agarkar Report Card
| Category | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Major tournament selection | 20% | 9.5/10 |
| White-ball squad building | 15% | 9.0/10 |
| Bold selection decisions | 10% | 9.0/10 |
| Young-player development | 10% | 8.5/10 |
| Test selection | 15% | 7.0/10 |
| Handling experienced players | 10% | 7.5/10 |
| Communication | 10% | 7.5/10 |
| Selection consistency | 10% | 8.0/10 |
Final Verdict
Ajit Agarkar has had a highly successful tenure as India’s chief selector, especially in white-ball cricket.
India have won three major global white-ball tournaments during his tenure and have shown the ability to combine experience with new talent. The Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup, in particular, strengthen the case that the selection group has generally made effective combination decisions.
But Agarkar’s record is not perfect. Test selection, communication around difficult calls and the management of experienced players remain areas where the selection committee can improve.
The most important point is that the chief selector should not be treated as the sole decision-maker. Selection is a collective process involving selectors, captain, coach and support staff.
Overall, METRET gives Ajit Agarkar 8.4/10. His white-ball record is outstanding, while the next major test will be how effectively the selection committee manages India’s long-term Test transition.