'History will be kinder to you' - Gautam Gambhir pays tribute to Ajit Agarkar after his exit as chief selector

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir paid a warm tribute to Ajit Agarkar following the latter's departure from the role of Chairman of the Senior Men's Selection Committee. Agarkar's tenure as chief selector came to an end on October 4, 2026, after he informed the BCCI of his decision to step down ahead of the Annual General Meeting on September 18, 2026.

Gambhir acknowledged Agarkar's contributions during their time working together and highlighted the three ICC trophies won under his watch as a reflection of his commitment to the team.

"Dear Ajit Bhai, an absolute honour to work with you. Those 3 ICC trophies are testimony of your conviction: Team first & Team ahead, always.. I must say, History will be kinder to you. Thank you for everything. My heartfelt wishes for your future endeavours," Gambhir wrote on X.

What did India achieve under Agarkar's tenure as chief selector?

Ajit Agarkar was appointed Chairman of the Senior Men's Selection Committee on July 4, 2023, and went on to serve in the role for a little over three years until October 2026. During his time in charge of selection, India won three major ICC titles, namely the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup.

These victories across formats underlined the consistency of the squads assembled under Agarkar's oversight. The period from July 2023 to October 2026 proved to be one of the most successful stretches for Indian cricket in terms of ICC tournament results, with the team claiming silverware in each of the three global competitions they contested during that window.

Gambhir's tribute specifically pointed to these three trophies as evidence of Agarkar's conviction and his unwavering focus on placing the team above all else throughout his tenure. The Indian head coach's words reflected the close working relationship the two shared during a remarkably productive era for the national side.

Why did Agarkar step down and who will succeed him?

Agarkar informed the BCCI of his intention to leave the post before the board's Annual General Meeting on September 18, 2026, with his tenure officially concluding on October 4, 2026. The specific reasons behind his decision to step down have not been publicly disclosed by either Agarkar or the BCCI.

Following his departure, the BCCI initiated a search for the next chief selector. No successor has been officially named as of October 7, 2026. The board's process for identifying and appointing a new Chairman of the Senior Men's Selection Committee is currently underway.