Ajit Agarkar opens up on heated exchange with Rahul Dravid in selection meeting, says, ‘We’ve had some…
New Delhi: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted that selection meetings behind closed might become quite intense. He opened up about “bust-ups” with former India head coach Rahul Dravid while debating about squad selections.
In an interview with NDTV, Agarkar provided a rare glimpse into India’s selection process, highlighting that disagreements are not only common but essential for picking the strongest team for the country.
“I mean Rahul Dravid was coach before this — he’s a dear friend — and we’ve had some, I won’t call it bust-ups, but we’ve had some real disagreements with regards to what he wants,” Agarkar said. “But that’s because we are trying to do what’s in the interest of the team.”
Agarkar highlighted that the selection process is a collaborative effort
Agarkar highlighted that the selection process is a collaborative effort that includes extensive conversations with the captain, head coach, and the entire selection panel. With five selectors participating, differing opinions are frequent but encouraged as part of a robust decision-making framework.
“Eventually, once you reach that selection meeting, most of us are on the same page,” he said. “We’ve had lots of discussions leading up to that and lots of disagreements, which is important. There are five people who will have different thoughts — hopefully not five completely different thoughts — but the fact that we have those disagreements means we have more than one option for a particular spot.”
Agarkar said every decision is driven by the team’s best interests
He further explained that most of the squad generally picks itself, with around 12 to 14 players usually confirmed, while discussions usually focus on one or two remaining spots. Agarkar made it clear that, despite occasional disagreements, every decision is driven by the team’s best interests.
“Eventually, it’s our decision to make. Whether it was with Rahul before or Gautam [Gambhir] now, and even with captains — Rohit before this and Shubman now — we discuss things. Our job is to try and give the best possible 15 so that the captain and coach can have their life made a little bit easier. And if you don’t involve them in the discussion, it’ll be foolish,” he noted.
Agarkar revealed communication continues even after the squad is finalized
Agarkar also revealed that communication continues even after the squad is finalized. During ongoing tours, like the current one in Australia, discussions with key stakeholders remain active.
“Even now when the team’s playing in Australia, I’ll have discussions with Gautam Gambhir or Shubman Gill. There’s a South Africa series immediately to follow. So you’re always constantly trying to see how best you can improve the team.”
As multiple formats are in action and significant tournaments like the 2027 ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup are knocking the door, Agarkar emphasized the importance of continuous planning for workload management, squad rotation, and long-term team strategy.
Agarkar emphasized the importance of planning for workload management
“There’s a T20 World Cup coming. Six to eight months or a year before that, you start planning for it. Then there’s a 50-over World Cup coming, and there’s a WTC cycle which keeps going. So you have different plans for each.”
Despite the pressure and constant public scrutiny of selections, Agarkar emphasized that internal discussions stay respectful, professional, and focused on the team’s objectives.
“Fortunately, we are in a position where we have lots of options. It makes our life a little bit easier, maybe not for fans who want the other player that we don’t pick, but at the moment, we are happy with the way it’s working.”
Story Highlight
- BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar opened up about “bust-ups” with former India head coach Rahul Dravid while debating about squad selections.
- Agarkar provided a rare glimpse into India’s selection process, highlighting that disagreements are not only common but essential for picking the strongest team for the country.
- Agarkar highlighted that the selection process is a collaborative effort that includes extensive conversations with the captain, head coach, and the entire selection panel.
- Agarkar also explained that most of the squad generally picks itself, with around 12 to 14 players usually confirmed, while discussions usually focus on one or two remaining spots.
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