Gautam Gambhir expressed confidence that Ajit Agarkar’s contributions to Indian cricket would be valued even more with the passage of time.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed outgoing chief selector Ajit Agarkar as he departs from the role. He commended Agarkar’s strong conviction and praised his unwavering commitment to putting the team’s interests above all else.
Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wrapped up on October 4, 2026, after a mixed run, and he did not seek an extension. While India had won multiple ICC white-ball trophies, some of Agarkar’s calls drew major scrutiny, and BCCI had to intervene in some instances.ย ย
‘History will be kinder to you’
In a post on ‘X’ (Formerly Twitter), Gambhir praised Agarkar for his leadership and contribution to Indian cricket, crediting his vision and unwavering approach for helping the team win three ICC titles. He also thanked the former Indian cricketer for his service as chief selector, said that his achievements would be appreciated with time and wished him success in his future endeavours.
“Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first & team ahead, always. I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours!!” Gambhir wrote on ‘X’
Who is serving as chief selector now?
In Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector, India finished as runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup and went on to win the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. In 2026, the Indian men’s cricket team successfully defended the T20 World Cup to become three-time champions.
More from FirstcricketWith Agarkar departing from the role, former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is serving as the interim chief selector. He chaired BCCI’s recent meeting to finalise the squad for the New Zealand tour. The BCCI has invited applications for the men’s selection committee to replace the outgoing Agarkar.