Report: Rohit Sharma Row and Friction With VVS Laxman Lay Behind Ajit Agarkar’s Exit
A report says a dispute over Rohit Sharma’s ODI future and differences with VVS Laxman contributed to Ajit Agarkar’s decision to leave the BCCI.
By SportCricket Desk · 20 Sep 2026 · 3 min read
Ajit Agarkar’s departure as chairman of selectors was reportedly driven by a disagreement over Rohit Sharma’s place in the ODI side and by growing friction with VVS Laxman, who heads the BCCI Centre of Excellence. All details below are reported claims.
The Rohit episode
Before India’s white-ball series against England, the selection committee under Agarkar, in consultation with team management, had reportedly decided to move on from Rohit in ODIs after the Lord’s match. South Zone selector Pragyan Ojha, a close friend of Rohit, was asked to pass on the message.
Rohit, who still wants to play at the 2027 ODI World Cup, was reportedly unhappy and contacted a senior BCCI administrator. The board then asked Agarkar to be more cautious, citing Rohit’s consistent scoring.
Agarkar reportedly believed Yashasvi Jaiswal would need about 20 ODIs to establish himself if he was part of the 2027 plans, and doubted whether an ageing Rohit could stay effective in South African conditions.
The BCCI statement
The situation reportedly came to a head when the BCCI issued a media statement backing Rohit and dismissing retirement talk. Agarkar was reportedly unaware it was being released. A senior official quoted by Hindustan Times called it a major blow to the chairman’s authority, and Agarkar was left feeling that big decisions on senior players no longer rested with the selectors.
Differences with Laxman
The report also describes disagreements with Laxman over injured players, India A scheduling and selection policy. Agarkar reportedly saw the Asian Games as a lower-tier event and questioned sending the strongest squad.
Several India A fixtures reportedly clashed with domestic events such as the Irani Cup, and an India A series against New Zealand A overlapped with senior white-ball commitments. Another sore point was the lack of clear recovery timelines for centrally contracted players rehabilitating at the Centre of Excellence.
Trust was further damaged when a confidential, detailed injury list covering several prominent players was leaked to the media.
Together, these issues reportedly made Agarkar’s position difficult and led to his decision to leave.
