Reports: BCCI plans India vs Rest of World XI for centenary, Agarkar confirms exit

The Board of Control for Cricket in India held its Annual General Meeting on September 18 2026, reaching broad agreement on a year-long centenary programme running from December 2027 to December 2028.

The headline attraction of those celebrations is a planned match between India and a Rest of the World XI, though the format — whether a Test, ODI, T20I or a series — has not yet been settled. The same meeting confirmed that Ajit Agarkar has informed the BCCI he does not intend to continue as chairman of selectors beyond his current contract, which expires on October 4 2026.

Founded in December 1928, the BCCI enters its centenary window across the 2027 to 2028 period. According to a report in ABP, players from Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are among those likely to feature in the Rest of the World XI, though the final composition of that side has not been confirmed. Specific dates within the December 2027 to December 2028 window for the match have also not been disclosed.

BCCI office-bearers were authorised at the AGM to take decisions on matters concerning the selection committees, signalling that the board intends to move quickly on finding a replacement for Agarkar before his contract formally concludes on October 4 2026.

Why is Agarkar not continuing as chief selector?

No official reason has been provided by either Agarkar or the BCCI for his decision not to extend his tenure. Agarkar was appointed chairman of the BCCI selection committee on July 4 2023, and his contract runs until October 4 2026, giving him a tenure of just over three years. The BCCI has made no public statement explaining the circumstances of his departure, and no reason has been attributed to either party in any confirmed report.

The AGM's decision to authorise office-bearers to handle selection committee matters effectively places the search for a new chairman in the hands of senior board officials, bypassing the need for another full general meeting before the appointment is made. The board appears intent on completing the transition before Agarkar's contract formally lapses.

Who could replace Agarkar as BCCI chief selector?

Parthiv Patel has been reported as the frontrunner to succeed Agarkar in the role, though no formal appointment has been confirmed by the BCCI. The board has not publicly named any candidate, and the selection process remains ongoing following the mandate granted to office-bearers at the September 18 meeting.

The incoming chairman will take charge during a demanding stretch for Indian cricket and will need to be in position well ahead of the centenary programme beginning in December 2027. No timeline for completing the appointment has been announced by the BCCI.