Ajit Agarkar’s selector era ends; Gambhir highlights his legacy

New Delhi, 7 Oct – On X, former Indian captain Gautam Gambhir extended his congratulations to Ajit Agarkar as the latter’s tenure as chief selector concluded. “It has been a privilege to work with you, Ajit bhai. The three ICC titles you helped secure are proof of your dedication. History will be generous to you,” Gambhir wrote.

Since assuming the role in July 2023, Agarkar’s selections guided India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, a win at the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the 2026 T20 World Cup, and a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. His final responsibility was naming the squad for the West Indies T20 series.

Interim chief selector Piyush Chawla, a former spinner with 24 Tests to his name, has been appointed alongside Shiv Sunder Das, Ajay Ratra and RP Singh. BCCI policy dictates that the selector with the highest number of Test caps assumes the chief role.

Chawla’s committee released the playing XI for the upcoming New Zealand T20 series, reinstating pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar after four years out of the side.

To fill the permanent chief selector vacancy, BCCI has issued an application call. Candidates must have logged at least 7 Tests, 30 first‑class matches, or a mixed record of 10 ODIs and 20 first‑class games, and must have retired a minimum of five years ago. Applications close on 14 October.