The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally reacted to the growing criticism aimed at chief selector Ajit Agarkar after India’s 0-2 Test series defeat to South Africa at home. The clean sweep has raised serious questions about India’s selection process and long-term team planning under head coach Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar. Fans and former players have openly questioned the direction of the red-ball team.
India’s recent Test form at home has been poor. Since Gambhir and Agarkar took charge, India have now lost two home Test series. They first lost to New Zealand last year and have now suffered a defeat against South Africa. These back-to-back setbacks at home have added pressure on the team management and the selection committee.
Questions over Ajit Agarkar’s domestic presence answered by BCCI Official
One of the biggest criticisms against Ajit Agarkar is his limited presence at domestic matches. Agarkar has often stressed that Indian players should regularly play domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy when they are not on national duty. However, critics have pointed out that he himself is rarely seen at these matches.
There have also been reports suggesting that the lack of direct scouting is creating a growing gap between selectors and domestic players. Many believe that regular on-ground presence is important to judge form, fitness, and temperament, which statistics alone may not fully reflect.
Despite the rising backlash, the BCCI has played down the concerns for now. A board official told the Times of India that the selectors have access to all match data and performances through digital platforms. The official said that physical presence at every game is not always necessary.
“We will speak to the selectors too (on the Test debacle), and as far as watching domestic games is concerned, every score comes on the app,” the Times of India quoted a BCCI official as saying.
It is also worth noting that Agarkar has remained very active during India’s overseas tours. He was regularly seen with the team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia last year. He was also present during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England earlier this year. This shows that his focus has largely been on the national team during international assignments.
After the defeat against South Africa, the pressure has clearly increased. The BCCI has now confirmed that it will soon hold talks with the selection committee. These discussions are expected to review the recent failures and future planning across formats.
For now, the board is not hinting at any immediate changes. However, the message is clear. The recent Test defeats have placed both the coaching staff and selectors under close watch. Further poor results could lead to tougher decisions in the months ahead.
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