How Ajit Agarkar’s tenure transformed Indian careers: The stars who rose, fell and found redemption under his watch
How Ajit Agarkar s tenure reshaped India’s selection picture
Bharatmorning.com – How Ajit Agarkar s tenure transformed Indian careers is evident in the changing status of several established and emerging players. His term as India’s chief selector is due to end on October 4, after a three-year spell that coincided with major results for the national team, including the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India also finished runners-up at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Yet trophies reveal only part of a selector’s impact. Squad choices can strengthen a player’s long-term position, create leadership opportunities or leave an experienced international outside the active setup.
The India Career Value Index, scored out of 100, offers one way to assess those changes. It considers national-team involvement, international performance, trust in major ICC tournaments, and standing through leadership responsibilities and central contracts. It is not a measure of talent, but an indicator of a player’s place in India’s plans.
Mohammed Shami’s sharp change in status
Mohammed Shami’s journey highlights the most dramatic shift. During the period, he reached an ICVI of 98, reflecting his importance to India’s ODI attack, his Grade A contract and his strong performances at global tournaments.
At the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami took 24 wickets in seven matches at an average of 10.70, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker despite missing India’s first four matches. He also returned nine wickets in five appearances at the 2025 Champions Trophy and was named in the ICC Team of the Tournament.
However, the Champions Trophy final in March 2025 remains his last India appearance. Shami took 69 wickets in 22 matches across the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, including 37 Ranji wickets at 16.72. Even so, he moved from Grade A in 2024-25 to no central contract in 2025-26, taking his current ICVI to zero.
Yuzvendra Chahal falls out of contention
Yuzvendra Chahal’s decline followed a clearer selection path. When Agarkar took charge in July 2023, Chahal was still a regular T20I option. He played all five matches against West Indies that August and claimed five wickets.
His final India match came on August 13, 2023. By then, Chahal had 96 wickets from 80 T20Is and 121 wickets from 72 ODIs. He was left out of the 2023 ODI World Cup squad and, although selected for the 2024 T20 World Cup, did not play a match.
Agarkar had previously pointed to Axar Patel’s batting value and Kuldeep Yadav’s edge in the wrist-spin contest when explaining Chahal’s Asia Cup omission. Chahal’s ICVI has consequently fallen from 43 to zero, despite his long record as a specialist spinner.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s T20I role becomes smaller
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s reduced standing is not easily explained by his returns. Across T20Is in 2023 and 2024, he scored 498 runs at an average of 62.25 and a strike rate of 150.
Against Australia late in 2023, Gaikwad led the run-scoring charts with 223 runs at an average of 55.75 and a strike rate of 159.28. His later performances against Zimbabwe also supported his case.
Still, July 13, 2024 remains his most recent T20I. He retains a Grade C central contract and has returned to the ODI squad, but his place in the T20I order has weakened. His ICVI has dropped from a peak of 65, achieved alongside his Asian Games captaincy, to 23.
Abhishek Sharma’s rise under the new order
How Ajit Agarkar s tenure influenced India’s future is also visible in the rise of players such as Abhishek Sharma. He had not represented India when Agarkar became chief selector, but his emergence has made him a central figure in the evolving T20 setup.
The broader selection story is therefore not simply about players losing opportunities. It is about a changing hierarchy, where tournament trust, role balance, current form and long-term planning can all determine who moves closer to India’s first-choice XI.
FAQ: India cricket selection under Ajit Agarkar
When does Ajit Agarkar’s current term end?
Ajit Agarkar’s current term as India’s chief selector is set to end on October 4.
When did Mohammed Shami last play for India?
Shami’s most recent India appearance was the 2025 Champions Trophy final in March 2025.
Why did Yuzvendra Chahal lose his place?
India’s selection balance favoured other options, with Axar Patel’s batting and Kuldeep Yadav’s position in the wrist-spin race cited as factors.
Is Ruturaj Gaikwad still in India’s plans?
Gaikwad remains contracted in Grade C and has returned to the ODI squad, although his T20I opportunities have reduced.