‘Don’t put me on the spot’ - Ajit Agarkar left amused by tricky questions on India selections

India chief selector Ajit Agarkar found himself in a light-hearted yet awkward situation during an Awards ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday, May 30, as presenter Danish Sait put him on the spot with a series of witty questions regarding the Indian team selection process.

The event, held a day before the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, featured a special segment celebrating India’s triumph at the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Following a video montage of the victorious campaign, Danish Sait, popularly known for his ‘Mr Nags’ from RCB’s social media team, turned his attention towards Agarkar with a cheeky question.

“Do you look at this team and go, ‘Man, what a good team I selected’?” Danish asked.

The question drew laughter from the audience as Agarkar carefully weighed his response.

“I have to be careful what I say. Things could get taken out of context,” Agarkar replied with a smile.

While avoiding a direct self-congratulatory remark, the former India pacer admitted that it was indeed a proud feeling to have been involved in selecting the squad that went on to win the global title. India enjoyed a dominant campaign in the tournament, losing just one game before clinching their third T20 World Cup crown and second consecutive title.

“Yes, it was nice to relive that moment because I was there, and yes, it was nice to pick that team,” he added.

Danish, however, was not ready to let the chief selector escape the scene easily. He followed up with another humorous query about one of the toughest aspects of a selector’s role, informing players that they have missed out on selection.

“This is a country with more than a billion people. I want to know how many innovative ways you have found to tell people, ‘Sorry man, not this time, maybe the next series’,” he asked.

Agarkar once again responded with a laugh, acknowledging the challenge that comes with the responsibility.

“I’m still trying to find ways. It’s an everyday process,” he said.

The presenter then attempted to extract more details about the selection process by asking what the “most innovative” rejection method had been. That question finally left Agarkar searching for an escape route.

“Don’t put me on the spot. It’s not the night. There’s a selection coming up in a few days,” he said, laughing, as the audience erupted in response.

Since taking over as chairman of selectors in June 2023, Agarkar has overseen one of the most successful phases in recent Indian cricket history. Under his watch, India have featured in four ICC tournaments, reaching the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup before securing three successive global titles, the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The former all-rounder has also played a key role in managing India’s transition period, which included the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma from various formats of the game. Agarkar’s original tenure was set to conclude in March 2026, but the BCCI opted to extend his contract until the 2027 ODI World Cup, rewarding the sustained success achieved by the Indian team during his time as chief selector.