Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 15: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearers are set to meet selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar after India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka to discuss a possible one-year extension to his tenure.

Agarkar, the former India all-rounder, will complete three years as chairman in September and is eligible for a one-year extension under the existing rules. The meeting assumes significance amid differences between the national selectors and the BCCI over the future of former India captain Rohit Sharma.

The selectors had reportedly informed Sharma that they were considering replacing him in the ODI squad after the white-ball series against England in July. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia subsequently gave a different indication, saying Sharma would continue to represent India as long as he remained “in the scheme of things”.

The BCCI is understood to want the selectors to assess Sharma’s future series by series ahead of the 2027 50-over World Cup.

The selectors, however, are reportedly unhappy with Saikia’s comments as they came after they had communicated to Sharma that he would not be selected beyond the England series.

Sharma, who now plays only ODIs for India, had expressed his desire to continue in the format. However, the selectors, in consultation with the team management, were keen to provide opportunities to other players, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, at the top of the order after the England series.

Sharma scored 11 and 26 in the first two ODIs against England in Birmingham and Cardiff respectively before producing a match-winning 138 in the third ODI at Lord’s on July 19.

It is learnt that Sharma spoke to a few BCCI officials on the sidelines of the England series and was unhappy with the selectors’ decision to look beyond him.

Sources said that following a meeting between Sharma and a senior BCCI official, coupled with his century at Lord’s, the veteran opener could be considered for inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies.

Saikia had earlier rejected suggestions that the Lord’s ODI could be Sharma’s final appearance for India.

“I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday. Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, Lord’s ODI won’t be his last match,” Saikia had told.

The Agarkar-led selection committee removed Sharma as India’s ODI captain last year and appointed Shubman Gill as his replacement.

The BCCI was keen on retaining Agarkar until the 2027 World Cup, but a final decision on his extension is expected to be taken after the meeting with him.

Under Sharma’s captaincy, India reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final, with the team’s aggressive approach at the top of the order becoming a defining feature of its campaign.

The attacking strategy continued under his leadership in the following year as India won the 2024 T20 World Cup title.