All posts tagged: Agarkar

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and now Shubman Gill: How Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar consistently rejected star-culture | Cricket News

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and now Shubman Gill: How Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar consistently rejected star-culture | Cricket News

Published by Webster

The year in which the world took fat jabs and got thinner, Indian cricket also took the revolutionary step of discarding its heavyweights. 2025 will be remembered for Indian cricket taking some very un-Indian cricketing decisions. First, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were told they wouldn’t be needed for Tests. And by the year’s end, just about a month before the T20 World Cup at home; Shubman Gill – the Test, ODI captain, and T20I vice-captain – was dropped. Be it the Kings or the Prince, no one was extended extra-ordinary privileges. Never-ever in India had cricketing royalty been unilaterally treated as commoners. These bolts from the blue were a blow to cricket’s deep-rooted cult of personality. Shubman Gill walks off the field after bowled out by South Africa’s Marco Jansen during the third T20I cricket match between India and South Africa in Dharamshala. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia) In a nation deeply ingrained in VIP culture – where rush-hour traffic stands still for cars with beacons, hospitals have dedicated counters and queues for the privileged and …

Shubman Gill informed about omission by Ajit Agarkar from T20 World Cup squad after selection committee meeting | Cricket News

Shubman Gill informed about omission by Ajit Agarkar from T20 World Cup squad after selection committee meeting | Cricket News

Published by Parlour News

Shubman Gill came to know about his omission from the T20 World Cup squad only after the decision had been formalised by selection committee, when chief selector Ajit Agarkar communicated it to him. Going into Saturday’s meeting, the place of incumbent T20I vice captain Gill – who had been short of runs and plagued by injury of late – was expected to be a point of discussion, but whether the panel would leave him out altogether was far from certain. After a neck problem that surfaced during the first Test against South Africa, a toe injury put him out of the last two T20Is against the Proteas. That Gill was informed after the event is significant as he is the skipper of the Test and ODI teams. “You’re looking at combinations at the moment. Someone has to miss out when you take 15. And unfortunately, it’s him (Gill). It’s not because he’s not a good player,” Agarkar explained the decision. With the team under Surykumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir not compromising on the all-attacking approach, …

‘I give Ajit Agarkar 10 on 10, dropping Shubman Gill would’ve been a tough call’: Harbhajan Singh lauds selectors after India’s T20 World Cup squad reveal | Cricket News

‘I give Ajit Agarkar 10 on 10, dropping Shubman Gill would’ve been a tough call’: Harbhajan Singh lauds selectors after India’s T20 World Cup squad reveal | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for the squad that they have assembled for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Harbhajan acknowledged that dropping Shubman Gill would not have been an easy decision and hailed the inclusions of the likes of Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan. “I give chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the management 10 out of 10. It must have been tough to leave out Shubman Gill, but it is not the end for him in T20s. The team combination was the priority. I am very happy Rinku Singh is in the team, and Ishan Kishan has also returned. We spoke about him being in contention, and he got a spot. He is in good form,” said Harbhajan on Star Sports. Shubman Gill’s ommission was the biggest standout by some margin in the announcement. While Gill’s form was such that it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise if he wasn’t named, the fact that he had been made vice captain of the team after being made captain of …

Ajit Agarkar on Shubman Gill’s omission from T20 World Cup squad: We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment | Cricket News

Ajit Agarkar on Shubman Gill’s omission from T20 World Cup squad: We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar stressed on fielding the right combinations for the upcoming T20 World Cup and acknowledged former T20I vice captain Shubman Gill’s lack of runs which led to his omission from the World Cup squad. Gill was appointed the deputy of skipper Suryakumar Yadav ahead of September’s Asia Cup but hasn’t fired with the bat. In the recently concluded South Africa series, he made 4, 0 and 28 before missing the fifth match because of an injury. “We know what a quality player he is, but, perhaps short of a little bit of runs at the moment. It’s unfortunate to have missed out in the last World Cup as well because we went with different combinations. But it’s the combinations more than anything else…Someone has to miss out when you pick 15 and unfortunately, it’s Gill at this point,” said Agarkar in the press conference for India’s squad announcement on Saturday. “We are looking at the combination. If the keeper is going to bat at the top, at the moment Jitesh is there …

Time for the BCCI to ensure there’s no ill will between Virat Kohli, coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar

Time for the BCCI to ensure there’s no ill will between Virat Kohli, coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar

Published by Webster

These aren’t the best of times for Indian cricket. The proud home record is shattered, trust has broken down, and intrigue is on the rise. On an extraordinary night in Ranchi, after a goosebumps-raising ton, Virat Kohli gave a defiant answer to the men in power who had deemed it necessary for seniors to play in domestic cricket to be continuously available for national selection. Seen as aimed at Rohit Sharma and Kohli, who only play ODIs now, it had seemed a fairly judicious way to stay in touch given that the World Cup is two years away. Rohit has acquiesced but Kohli, who lives in London these days, hasn’t done so yet. And now said he has “never been a believer of too much preparation”. BCCI’s diktat vs greatest contemporary cricketing star — the battle is on. Three central characters figure in this potboiler: Kohli, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Over the years, Kohli has never missed a chance to target real and imagined detractors. He often places himself as …

Ajit Agarkar Finally Explains What BCCI Did When Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Quit Test Cricket

Ajit Agarkar Finally Explains What BCCI Did When Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Quit Test Cricket

Published by Webster

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on Saturday conceded that the void left by the Test retirement of premier cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is tough to fill, but hoped that other players will step up during the upcoming tour of England. Rohit was the first to announce retirement from Test cricket on May 7, while his long-time teammate Kohli followed suit on May 12. “When guys like that retire, they are stalwarts of cricket…it is always difficult, (their) shoes are very big to fill. But one way of looking at it is, that it’s an opportunity for others,” Agarkar told the media after announcing India’s 18-member squad for the five-Test series starting June 20. Young left-hander Sai Sudharsan and the seasoned Karun Nair have been brought in to replace the two superstars. Agarkar revealed that Kohli had reached out to him last month, possibly after the Champions Trophy, expressing his desire to quit Test cricket. “Virat reached out (to the BCCI/selection committee) in early April, and he felt he had given everything …

Shreyas Iyer Gets Blunt ‘No Room’ Verdict From Ajit Agarkar After Snub From India’s Test Squad vs England

Shreyas Iyer Gets Blunt ‘No Room’ Verdict From Ajit Agarkar After Snub From India’s Test Squad vs England

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The Indian cricket squad for the Test series against England was announced on Saturday by BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar. While the likes of Sai Sudharshan, Karun Nair, Arshdeep Singh got call-ups on expected lines, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami was not included due to his fitness. Two names which were ignored, much to the surprise in some quarters, were Sarfaraz Khan and Shreyas Iyer. The latter has been in terrific touch in recent times both in the limited overs format for India and in the IPL 2025. He has Test experience too but he was ignored. BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar said there’s no room at the moment for Shreyas Iyer in the Test team. “Shreyas had a good one-day series, played well in domestic as well but right now there’s no room in Test cricket,” he was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.   Karun Nair, who’s handed a Test call-up after seven years on the back of consistent performances in domestic cricket, has been backed by Agarkar to come good …

‘Virat obviously reached out in early April and said he wants to finish’: Ajit Agarkar | Cricket News

‘Virat obviously reached out in early April and said he wants to finish’: Ajit Agarkar | Cricket News

Published by Parlour News

Going into the England tour, India has a Virat Kohli-sized void to fill in the middle order. After R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma, Kohli has been the latest to call it a day in the longer version of the game. While BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said the team will miss the experience of Kohli, but also acknowledged that it is an opportunity for others to step up. He also revealed Kohli’s decision of wanting to leave came in April. “When guys like that retire, it’s always going to be big holes to fill. Even Ashwin retired a few months back. All those guys are stalwarts of Indian cricket. It’s always difficult. One way to look at it is that it’s an opportunity for someone else. Obviously, I’ve had conversations with both of them over the last couple of months. Virat obviously reached out in early April and said he wants to finish,” Agarkar said. “We’ve seen him want to give 200 percent every ball that plays… even when he’s not batting and in …

Sarfaraz Khan Snubbed For India’s Test Squad vs England. Ajit Agarkar Says, “He Got A 100, Then…”

Sarfaraz Khan Snubbed For India’s Test Squad vs England. Ajit Agarkar Says, “He Got A 100, Then…”

Published by Webster

The Indian Test team has officially entered its long-awaited transitional phase when Shubman Gill was named as the captain for the upcoming five-match tour of England, with Rishabh Pant named his deputy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted that it’s always tough to fill in big holes left by retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. The last time a Test played without Rohit, Kohli and Ashwin was on tour of England in 2011. “When guys like that retire, always big holes to fill. Ashwin also retired. Those three have been stalwarts. Always difficult. One way of looking at it is, opportunity for someone else. Had conversations with both of them.” “Virat reached out early April, seen him give 200% on every ball he plays even when he’s not batting or on the field. Felt he’d given everything he had, if he can’t keep up to the standards it was time for him. It’s come from him. Have to respect that. They’ve earned that respect.” “It is a new WTC cycle, you …

Virat Kohli Spoke To Ajit Agarkar Twice, Decided To Quit Tests Over ‘Lack Of Freedom’: Report

Virat Kohli Spoke To Ajit Agarkar Twice, Decided To Quit Tests Over ‘Lack Of Freedom’: Report

Published by Webster

Unarguably one of the most talismanic cricketers to have ever played the game, Virat Kohli bid farewell to the Test format on Monday, sending the entire fraternity in shock. While the decision left quite a few surprised, those in the know suggest that the batter had made up his mind long ago. With a new World Test Championship cycle starting, Virat knew that some things had to change if he and the team had to pull themselves out of the rut they had recently been in. As per reports, Kohli wanted a new challenge, the opportunity of anchoring the team in this phase of transition by returning to the captaincy role. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had other ideas. In a report by Cricbuzz, it has been learned that Kohli took the decision to quit Test cricket as he as informed of the management’s decision to give the captaincy responsibility to a younger player. He wanted new challenges for his own self-discovery and resurgence. Under the current management, he …