Ajit Agarkar Faces Scrutiny as Rohit Sharma Replaced by Shubman Gill as Captain

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar is under the spotlight following the decision to replace Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain.

The Indian cricket team is entering a transitional phase, with Agarkar remaining non-committal about the future selection of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the World Cup in South Africa during the squad announcement for the upcoming Australia tour.

Both Rohit and Kohli have retired from Tests and T20Is, leaving ODIs as the only format they are available for. While they have previously expressed interest in playing the 2027 ODI World Cup, the latest developments suggest their plans may be uncertain, with selectors reportedly looking to prioritize performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Steve Harmison Comments on Tensions in Indian Cricket

Former England pacer Steve Harmison weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Agarkar could face a turbulent end to his tenure amid ongoing power dynamics involving former captains Kohli and Rohit.

“Unfortunately, I think there might be a messy end for Ajit Agarkar there. If anybody is going to win here, I think it is the former captains rather than the former all-rounder. But it all depends — if Agarkar is saying this just to fuel the fire of Kohli and Sharma, then fair enough. You put your cards on the table and see what comes,” Harmison said on talkSPORT Cricket.

During the Champions Trophy, Kohli was in sensational form, scoring a century against Pakistan and performing strongly in the semi-final against Australia. Rohit, after a slow start, regained his rhythm in the final, playing a match-winning knock against New Zealand to guide India to their second ICC title in under a year.

Potential Friction Ahead

Harmison also highlighted possible friction within the team, noting that Kohli holds more influence and legacy in ODIs compared to Rohit. He warned that sidelining Kohli could backfire for India, particularly in high-pressure chases.

“I think Kohli has a little bit of skin in the game — runs in the bank, his reputation. Sharma, not as much. Sharma’s a little older and hasn’t been as influential in 50-over cricket as Virat has. If Virat turns around and says, ‘All right, you go to the 50-over World Cup without me and leading up to it, let’s see when you’re chasing 350 against Australia or England, and you don’t have that bloke who averages 90 at number four winning games, see where your team’s at.’ There could be a messy end in that way. There could also be words that have been misunderstood in translation,” Harmison added.

The comments underline the delicate balancing act Agarkar faces as India navigates a new leadership structure while managing the egos and legacies of two of its greatest cricketers.