Mumbai : From February 2013 to October 2024, India remained unbeaten in 18 home Test series across nearly 12 years. But in the last 12 months, India have suffered whitewash defeats in two out of three home series, losing five of their last seven home Tests. With the team’s reputation taking a hit, it has been learned that the BCCI has summoned Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir for discussions.
India were blanked 0–3 by New Zealand at home last November, followed by a 0–2 defeat to South Africa this November. These back-to-back failures have angered millions of Indian cricket fans. Over the last two years alone, nearly 30 players have been tried in Test cricket — a mix of veterans and newcomers.
A report suggests that Agarkar and Gambhir will now be asked why so many players were tested within just 24 months and why a stable, strong Test side could not be developed.
Gambhir and Rishabh accept responsibility
Head Coach Gambhir has reportedly taken responsibility for the team’s Test failures over the past year, while stand-in captain Rishabh Pant apologised to fans after the 0–2 loss to South Africa.
Why doesn’t Agarkar attend domestic matches?
A major criticism against Agarkar is his limited presence at domestic cricket venues, as he is frequently seen at international matches instead. His absence from Ranji Trophy grounds has widened the gap between the selection committee and domestic performers. A month ago, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu publicly said both Agarkar and Gambhir should be removed from their positions.
Sarfaraz and Abhimanyu overlooked
Despite strong performances in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments, players like Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Karun Nair are being ignored, while more average performers such as Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy have been preferred.
A BCCI official reportedly stated that selectors largely depend on digital score updates instead of attending domestic games in person.
Why is Agarkar travelling with the team abroad?
Agarkar had supported youngsters like Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Abhimanyu Easwaran during the England series, but in recent months both Easwaran and Sarfaraz appear forgotten.
Typically, a chief selector’s role is to pick teams — yet Agarkar was seen travelling with the Indian squad during tours of Australia and England. The last time he was spotted attending a Ranji Trophy match in person was in early 2024.
Tough questions likely for Gambhir
Head Coach Gambhir is expected to face pointed questions such as:
Why are Indian batsmen struggling against visiting spinners even on home pitches?
Why has this issue not been resolved in the past year?
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