Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar has revealed that he did not have a very easy time working with former head coach Rahul Dravid ahead of the crucial white-ball series in Australia. Currently, Gautam Gambhir serves as the head coach of the Indian cricket team.
Gambhir replaced Dravid after he resigned from his post following the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 win in the United States and West Indies. After winning the title, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 cricket. Earlier this year, Rohit and Virat had also retired from Tests.
Ajit Agarkar reveals heated argument with Rahul Dravid behind closed doors
Well, despite Dravid’s calm nature and reputation as one of the kindest personalities in Indian cricket, the former Indian head coach has reportedly had several sharp disagreements with the chief selector, Agarkar, during team selection meetings.
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These clashes took place behind closed doors. Although selection discussions are usually kept private, Agarkar has highlighted the heated debates that take place during the meetings. Known for his calm personality on the field, Dravid displayed a surprisingly forceful side as a head coach.
Ajit Agarkar was quoted by NDTV as saying: “I mean Rahul Dravid was the coach before – he’s a dear friend – and we have some, I wouldn’t call him rubbish, but we have some real disagreements in terms of what he wants. But that’s because we’re trying to do what’s in the best interest of the team.”
Ajit Agarkar explains how decisions are taken
The Indian chief selector has emphasized that team selection is a team effort, involving detailed discussions with the selection panel, head coach and captain. With five selectors on the board, differences of opinion are normal, but they are all part of the process of exploring options.
Agarkar further explained, “Ultimately, once you get to that selection meeting, most of us are on the same page. We’ve had a lot of discussions to get to that and there are a lot of disagreements, which is important. There are five people who will have different ideas – hopefully not five completely different ideas – but the fact that we have those disagreements means we have more than one option for a particular location.”
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Ajit Agarkar spoke openly on team selection
The former Indian bowler said that most of the teams usually choose themselves, with 12 to 14 players almost decided and the debate mainly focuses on one or two places. Ajit Agarkar stressed that every decision is taken keeping in mind the best interests of the team. The aim is always to select the best 15 players and make life easier for the team leadership.
Despite all the pressure and public scrutiny surrounding team selection, Agarkar said the discussions within the selection panel remain calm and professional. The focus is always on making the best decision for the team, even when there are differences of opinion.
He signed off by saying, “Ultimately, it is our decision. Whether it is with Rahul first or with Gautam [Gambhir] Now, and even with the captains – earlier Rohit and now Shubman – we discuss things. Our job is to try to give the best possible 15 to make the life of the captain and the coach a little easier. And it would be foolish if you did not include them in the discussion.”
