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Ajit Agarkar discusses the challenges of being BCCI chief selector, comparing it to his roles as commentator and cricketer.
India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Former India cricketer and chief selector of the senior men’s team, Ajit Agarkar, has said that his previous jobs as a commentator and a player were way easier than his current profile as a chief selector, saying that the latter involves making careers of players, even while keeping in mind that he cannot please everyone.
After retiring in 2007, Agarkar moved into cricket commentary before taking on his current role as BCCI’s chairman of selectors.
When asked to compare his cricketing roles, Agarkar said that being a selector has been the toughest, while his playing days provided the greatest satisfaction.
“I will probably go with the easier one first. Being a commentator and I mean no disrespect, you still work hard, spend hours on the ground. As long as you get the right words out, your job as a commentator is done and you go home,” Agarkar said while speaking at the NDTV World Summit.
“Playing gives you the most satisfaction. Every time you step on the field, you know your job is on the line, your place is on the line. One thing that goes for you as a player is that the ball or bat is in your hand,” Agarkar added.
The former Indian cricketer said that his current job as a selector is hard because of the country’s problem of plenty.
“As a selector, once you pick a squad of 15, there is nothing else in your hand. It is challenging because of the depth of cricketers we have at the moment. A lot of things are out of your hands,” Agarkar said.
“It is a big responsibility. Once you’ve been a player, you know that you are shaping careers. A decision that you make can impact a player’s career in a good or a bad way. You can’t please everyone,” Agarkar added.
October 17, 2025, 21:42 IST
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