Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chief selector, shared insights into the challenges and responsibilities of his role at the NDTV World Summit 2025. Agarkar, 47, has been heading the BCCI selection committee since July 2023 and described his job as “demanding, hectic, and high-pressure,” emphasizing that it is impossible to please everyone.

Reflecting on his cricketing journey, Agarkar compared his three careers—player, commentator, and selector—admitting that playing gave him the most satisfaction, while selecting players is the most challenging. “As a player, the ball or bat is in your hand; every decision directly affects your performance. As a selector, once you pick a squad of 15, much is out of your hands. You are shaping careers, and your decisions can impact a player’s future, positively or negatively,” he said.

Agarkar also acknowledged the pressure that comes with managing a large talent pool in the India Cricket Team. “Having so many players to pick from is a good problem, as it raises competition and performance standards. Cricket’s popularity in India means there will always be critics, but we try to make the best decisions based on merit,” he explained.

When asked about social media trends such as #JusticeForShreyasIyer, Agarkar stated he does not focus on them, describing it as a “no-win situation” and emphasizing that selection decisions are based on careful assessment throughout the year.

Agarkar concluded by reinforcing the responsibility of his role: “It is a high-pressure position, and while you cannot please everyone, the goal is to do the best job possible as a selector.”