Ajit Agarkar (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) Ajit Agarkar, BCCI’s chief selector, shared insights on his role on Saturday. After his playing career, Agarkar moved through roles as a cricket commentator before taking up his current position as the BCCI Chairman of Selectors.When asked to compare his various cricket-related roles, Agarkar said that being a selector was the most challenging, while playing gave the most satisfaction.
Inside the toughest job: Ajit Agarkar as Team India selector
“I’ll probably go with the easier one first. Being a commentator, and I mean no disrespect, you still work hard, spend hours on the ground. As long as you say the right words, your work as a commentator is done and you go home,” he said at the NDTV 2025 World Summit.“Playing gives you the greatest satisfaction. Every time you step on the field, you know your job is on the line, your place is on the line. One thing for you as a player is to have the ball or the bat in your hand. The very small difference between winning and losing, that’s on the line.” “The one thing that goes for you as a player is at least the ball or the bat that you have in your hand. If you play well or if you make a mistake, that often determines where you go as a player. Once you pick a squad of 15 as a selector, you have nothing else in your hand. It’s challenging because of the depth of cricketers we have at the moment, it’s challenging. It’s a lot of work. “It’s a big responsibility. Once you’re a player, you know you’re shaping careers. A decision you make can affect a player’s career, in a good or bad way. You can’t please everyone. So as a coach you try to do the best job you can.”Agarkar, who has been serving as the BCCI selection committee chairman since 4 July 2023, also discussed the pressures of his current role.“Having so many players to choose from is a good problem to have. It improves competition levels and performance levels remain high. The sport is so popular in India that there will be people who will criticize your decisions. The fan base has increased several times over the last few years,” he added.When asked about his attention to social media trends like #JusticeForShreyasIyer, Agarkar firmly replied, “I haven’t. It’s a no-win situation. We watch a lot of cricket throughout the year.”
