Ajit Agarkar’s stint as India’s chief selector could end soon as he is unlikely to get another extension once his contract ends in September. Agarkar’s stint as the chief selector ended in June 2026. He was given a three-month extension by the BCCI. Dainik Jagran has reported that VVS Laxman is in line to replace Agarkar as the chief selector. The Indian legend is presently working as the chief of the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He first joined the BCCI’s coaching facility in 2021 and has been working there since then.
Interestingly, Laxman wanted to become India’s head coach in 2021. Since Rahul Dravid was already working as the NCA’s chief, he was picked ahead of Laxman. Laxman didn’t take up the job in 2024 and decided to stay at the COE.
Laxman could now take up a new role at the BCCI soon. But is he eligible to become India’s selector? Here, we have a look at whether Laxman can become India’s chief selector –
Under the BCCI rules, a candidate who wishes to apply for the position must have retired five years earlier. Laxman retired in 2012.
The BCCI’s previous advertisement also mentioned that the aspirant must have played 7 Tests or 30 first-class matches or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class matches. Laxman played 134 Tests and 86 ODIs. In total, he played 267 first-class and 173 List A matches.
Laxman hasn’t been part of any cricketing committee for the past five years. The 51-year-old is eligible to become the new selector.
Who becomes chief selector?
The player with the most Test caps in the selection panel becomes the chief selector. Laxman is the third-most-capped player for India in Tests. Only Sachin Tendulkar (200) and Rahul Dravid (163) have played more Tests than Laxman. Dravid served as India’s chief coach from 2021 to 2024. He is unlikely to take the selector’s job in the future.