What's ahead for Ajit Agarkar? VVS as next chief selector? Check here out!

                            

Ritik Sharma (Noida): Yesterday, a report was published in the renowned newspaper Dainik Jagran, authored by Abhishek Tripathi, one of India's prominent senior sports journalist. The report stated that Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar's position is under threat, and there is a possibility we may not see him holding the post for much longer. It also mentioned that if this occurs, VVS Laxman could step into his place.

Pressure Mounts on Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar

Based on everything gathered regarding this news, it appears true that Ajit Agarkar's position currently hangs in the balance. It is believed that despite the teams selected under his tenure performing exceptionally well in ICC events, it is no secret that the Indian Test team suffered a 0–3 whitewash at home against New Zealand.

Furthermore, several factors are reportedly contributing to the threat to his post:

• Communication gaps and media leaks from within the dressing room
• Inability to properly handle senior players
• Over-reliance on IPL performers, which backfired when those players were handed opportunities in red-ball cricket
• Frequent shuffling of players in the batting order
• Captaincy changes, injury issues, and workload management concerns
• Omission of top domestic performers

These issues are well known to cricket enthusiasts and have faced heavy criticism, frequently forcing BCCI officials to issue public clarifications.

As noted in the Dainik Jagran report, the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled for September. Information suggests that while positions held by certain other individuals were also at high risk of being lost, those decisions remain on hold for now due to the prevalent superstar culture within the team. As a result, Agarkar has become the primary focus.

Although Agarkar desired to remain Chief Selector until the 2027 World Cup, higher authorities are reportedly displeased and wish to prevent any internal friction heading into 2027. Consequently, an announcement regarding the end of his tenure could occur by September.

While no personal guarantees can be made regarding this outcome, if Gautam Gambhir's Test team faces defeat in the two-Test series in Sri Lanka, the validity of this report will likely be confirmed. Given the circumstances, even a 1–1 series draw would leave Agarkar in a precarious position, as only a complete whitewash victory might safeguard his role. The team management has no room for excuses this time, having arrived 8–10 days early to acclimate to local pitch conditions alongside warm-up matches arranged by the BCCI and Sri Lanka Cricket.

The VVS Laxman Factor

Regarding VVS Laxman, there is reasonable doubt as to whether he would opt for or be offered an in-office role. He currently serves as the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), overseeing the India A and Under-19 teams, while also stepping in as the national team's interim head coach with a strong track record. He would likely prefer a full-time Head Coach position in the future, making his appointment as Chief Selector a surprising development if it were to materialize.

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