Whenever the Indian team does well, all the credit goes to the players, and the coaches, but somehow the selectors don’t get enough credit for selecting them. On the other hand, if the performance dips, selection is often criticised. But it is high time that one appreciates the work put in by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, since July 2023.
Under him, the team made it to the final of the World Cup 2023, then won the T20 World Cup 2024, won the Champions Trophy in 2025, leveled the Test series in England 2-2, and a host of bilateral series wins. InsideSport tries to rate his two year tenure.
The good by Ajit Agarkar
Selection of Suryakumar Yadav as T20I skipper: After Rohit Sharma retired as the T20I captain, after winning the World Cup, the selection committee imposed faith in Suryakumar Yadav as the captain, instead of Hardik Pandya, who is injury prone.
No star worshipping, numbers matter: While many may not agree, but his message to the senior players.. perform or perish made the difference. Eventually, Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli retired from two format, making way for youngsters. Cheteshwar Pujara too was not considered for Tests, after 2023 WTC final.
Mohammed Shami was dropped when he wasn’t fit enough; was given a chance in CT 2025. And now, more recently, dropped Ravindra Jadeja from AUS ODIs.
Making domestic cricket mandatory: Who would have thought that the likes of Virat and Rishabh Pant would play Ranji? Yes, that was only possible when Agarkar made it mandatory for even star players to appear in domestic cricket.
Imposing faith in KL Rahul the Test batter: There was a time last year, when Rahul’s Test average had dropped to 33-34. There would have been a temptation to overlook him altogether for the format, but he instilled faith in the batter, and the rest is history. Rahul has reinvented himself as a Test opener.
Getting Shubman Gill as captain: Before the England series, Gill was struggling as a Test batter. And that is when Agarkar gave him the captaincy. Many believed the batter would crumble under pressure, but somehow he brought out his best to score 700 runs in the series. Besides there were other options too.
Backed Abhishek Sharma in T20Is, gave Sanju Samson a long rope: To go with Abhishek Sharma as the full-time opener in T20s, takes a lot of clarity in thought. That too, when an option in Yashasvi Jaiswal was available. Plus, one needs to commend him on giving Sanju Samson a long rope in the Indian team, that he so badly deserved.
Varun Chakravarthy brought back: VC had a poor run in 2021, and was overlooked for years after that. But Agarkar saw a special bowler in him and picked him for the Bangladesh series in 2024.
The questionable decisions
Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management: Bumrah was made to play only three Tests in England, which is understandable.. But what the need of playing him in Asia Cup T20Is. India could have done well without him in the format. And soon a few days after that, he was seen playing a Test against West Indies.
Harshit Rana an all-format bowler: Something just does not explain the inclusion of Rana in Tests and ODIs. In T20s too, he has been average at best. It seems like, the selector and the coach see a lot of potential in the player, but somehow he is yet to arrive on the big stage.
Anshul Kamboj in England: One of the big mysteries of the ENG tour is, was Kamboj injured during the only Test he played? Did the selectors not know of his fitness before he was sent to England? Could someone else have been sent?
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