The BCCI has pushed back against questions over Rohit Sharma’s international future after his 138-run innings against England, while confirming that Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar was absent from a review meeting that did not address individual selections or changes to the selection committee.
Rohit’s position had attracted scrutiny after suggestions emerged that India’s selectors were ready to move on from the former India Captain as preparations developed for the 2027 ODI World Cup. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told reporters after the review meeting: “He is playing superbly in all matches. What more do you want? He scored 138 in the last match. Don’t give fodder to such rumours.”
Saikia maintains public backing for Rohit Sharma
The latest comments follow a period of uncertainty around Rohit, who retired from T20Is in 2024 and Tests in 2025 but remains available for ODI cricket.
Speculation over his position intensified during India’s ODI series in England, with the final match at Lord’s being discussed as a possible end point for his international career. That possibility was publicly challenged before the match.
Speaking to PTI on July 17, Saikia said: “Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team, and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, the Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match.”
Rohit subsequently scored 138 in the third ODI, providing the performance Saikia referenced when he was again questioned about the batter following the BCCI meeting.
Ajit Agarkar misses BCCI review meeting
Agarkar was neither physically nor virtually present as the BCCI met with senior figures including India Test and ODI Captain Shubman Gill, T20I Captain Shreyas Iyer, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and CoE Director of Cricket VVS Laxman.
Saikia explained: “Today he (Agarkar) was out of station, so he could not be a part of the meeting. Because this meeting was called at very short notice and our head of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, was not in town, he could not join it, and he was in such an area that he could not join online also, despite our best efforts.”
Agarkar has served as Chairman of Selectors since 2023. Questions around his position had emerged alongside discussion over the composition of the selection structure and the possibility of a Director of Cricket role for the men’s team.
Saikia added: “There was no such discussion on this in today’s meeting. I do not comment on new rumours. We did not have any such discussions, nor did we have such intentions.”
Selection decisions kept outside review meeting
With the selectors absent, the meeting instead dealt with India’s recent performances and the programme ahead of the team as it builds towards the next ODI World Cup.
Saikia noted: “There was no discussion on the selection committee. Our whole focus was on performances in England and Ireland, as well as the recent Test series in Sri Lanka and what we are going to do in the upcoming series before the ODI World Cup, which is our ultimate goal.”
That distinction also kept decisions around individual players and their formats outside the scope of the discussions, leaving those calls with the selection panel.
He continued: “We have not discussed all these things regarding the team selection, team combination, who will be playing in what format. For that, selectors will take a call. Today, the selectors were not part of the discussion. So when the selectors meet to select the team for the West Indies series, as well as thereafter for the New Zealand series, they will consider whatever parameters are to be considered by them.”
The next selection meetings will therefore determine the personnel for India’s upcoming assignments, while Rohit remains available for ODI cricket and Agarkar continues in his role as Chairman of Selectors.
