Ajit Agarkar, who is set to leave his role as India's men's chief selector, was reportedly left angry and disappointed with the BCCI after secretary Devajit Saikia publicly backed Rohit Sharma.
According to a PTI report, Rohit's future became a major reason behind the growing differences between Agarkar and the board. Before India's three-match ODI series against England, Agarkar, with the backing of the team management and some BCCI officials, reportedly wanted to move on from Rohit.
Was Yashasvi Jaiswal Set to Replace Rohit Sharma?
Agarkar's reported plan was linked to the 2027 ODI World Cup. With Rohit set to turn 40 next year, the chief selector did not want to depend on him for the tournament.
Instead, he reportedly wanted to give Yashasvi Jaiswal around 20 ODIs to establish himself and prepare for a bigger role in the team.
How Did Rohit Sharma React to the Selectors' Decision?
Rohit was reportedly unhappy with the decision and the way the selectors handled the situation.
The PTI report claimed that the veteran batter approached a "very powerful administrator". Soon after, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia publicly spoke about Rohit's future ahead of the final ODI against England at Lord's.
What Did Devajit Saikia Say About Rohit's Future?
"There are a lot of speculations going on in the media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday," Saikia had said.
"Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team, and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match."
Did Rohit's Century Change Ajit Agarkar's Thinking?
Rohit scored a century in the match, although India ended up losing. According to the report, the episode made Agarkar realise that dropping Rohit was not a decision he could take independently.
The report suggested that Agarkar felt he did not have enough authority to make major decisions involving established stars such as Rohit. This reportedly contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with the BCCI.
Why Did Ajit Agarkar and VVS Laxman Reportedly Clash?
Agarkar's reported differences with VVS Laxman also added to the problems within India's cricket setup. The two reportedly disagreed over the handling of injured players and the scheduling of India A matches.
Did Laxman and Agarkar Differ Over the Asian Games Team?
Laxman, who preferred fielding the strongest team available, was reportedly in favour of sending top players whenever possible.
Agarkar, however, questioned the need to send a first-choice team to the Asian Games. This difference in approach reportedly became another source of tension between the two.
What Were the Concerns Over Injured Players?
Differences also emerged over the lack of clear timelines for injured centrally contracted players. The Centre of Excellence reportedly faced criticism over the handling of injury-related matters, adding to the disagreements between Agarkar and Laxman.
Did the Disagreements Lead to Mutual Mistrust?
Over time, the repeated disagreements reportedly developed into a relationship marked by mutual mistrust. The differences involving Rohit Sharma, injured players, India A scheduling and the Centre of Excellence reportedly added to the challenges Agarkar faced during his time as chief selector