Ajit Agarkar's Tenure Gets 7/10 Rating From Ex-India Star, Key Selection Calls Questioned

Wasim Jaffer rated Ajit Agarkar's stint 7 out of 10, highlighting the positives and the shortcomings.© AFP

Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has weighed in on Ajit Agarkar's tenure as chief selector following the former all-rounder's departure from the role at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earlier this month. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer rated Agarkar's stint 7 out of 10, highlighting both the positives and the shortcomings of his tenure. While the former India opener credited Agarkar for overseeing a period in which India enjoyed remarkable success in white-ball cricket, he also questioned some of the selection decisions made during his time at the helm.

Jaffer also pointed to the case of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, suggesting that Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee could have handled his situation better.

"We have done very well in white-ball cricket. We won two World Cups, the Asia Cup, and the Champions Trophy. So we have won trophies. I would give him 7 marks out of 10. I think how he handled some people could have been better. Surya was dropped after winning the T20 World Cup. Why was Bhuvi not playing T20Is? Where is Shami? Then, whatever was happening with Sarfaraz, Auqib Nabi was not picked earlier; Abhimanyu Easwaran's case has also been like this," Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.

A tenure marked by some truly special moments for Indian cricket - three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games Gold medals, along with a run to the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Thank you, Mr Ajit Agarkar @imAagarkar, for your commitment, conviction and contribution as Chairman of the Men's Selection Committee. Wishing you the very best for the journey ahead.

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 7, 2026

Jaffer also criticised Agarkar and his team for the fiasco surrounding the futures of veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He also mentioned that the decision to remove Rohit as captain, despite winning the Champions Trophy, was questionable.

"Then, the way he handled Virat and Rohit, and made Iyer the captain straightaway after the IPL. Rohit was removed from captaincy after winning the Champions Trophy. These are the things I feel could have been better. But he's known to be blunt and is not scared to take hard decisions," he added.

BCCI invites applications for one position on the Men's Selection Committee Details: https://t.co/9POlKGpzrt

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 6, 2026

Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha has been appointed interim chairman of the selection committee and could be handed the role on a full-time basis.

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel's name has also been cited in several reports, but there is no confirmation on the same.

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