After missing BCCI review meeting, Ajit Agarkar spotted in the stands during Duleep Trophy 2026 final

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was seen taking in the action from the stands on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy 2026 title clash between East Zone and South Zone at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, September 6. The 48-year-old's appearance at Chepauk comes right on the heels of his notable absence from the BCCI's high-level review meeting held in Mumbai on Thursday, September 3.

Ajit Agarkar spotted watch Duleep Trophy final

On the field, East Zone captain Ishan Kishan elected to bat first upon winning the toss, and his openers immediately rewarded the decision by building a strong 100-run foundation. Teenage batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi set an aggressive tone with a brisk 37-ball 44—striking at 118.92—before left-arm seamer Chama Milind ended his cameo in the 15th over. Co-opener Abhimanyu Easwaran added a solid 72 off 86 deliveries before a run-out cut his stay short in the 25th over.

Clarifying why Agarkar was absent from the high-profile session, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia explained that the meeting was convened on extremely short notice while the chief selector was travelling. Saikia noted that despite repeated attempts to connect remotely, Agarkar was stationed in an area with limited connectivity, preventing him from joining the virtual proceedings.

Addressing speculation regarding Agarkar's position, Saikia clarified that the selection committee’s leadership was not on the agenda. He stated that the discussions centered purely on evaluating recent overseas performances in England, Ireland, and Sri Lanka, while outlining strategic roadmaps for upcoming bilateral series and the upcoming World Cup.

The review session was attended by key stakeholders, including head coach Gautam Gambhir alongside format captains Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

Agarkar’s presence in Chennai extends far beyond mere damage control or optics following his recent absence. With India scheduled to play five red-ball ‘A’ fixtures over the next two months, hosting Australia before traveling to New Zealand—the chief selector is actively scouting talent to build out those upcoming squads. The Duleep Trophy final serves as a high-stakes trial for fringe players, giving Agarkar a firsthand look at top domestic performers under pressure.

To elevate the competitive standard of the summit clash, the BCCI injected established international talent into the South Zone setup. While KL Rahul declined an offer to feature, both Mohammed Siraj and Devdutt Padikkal were drafted into the playing XI. Fresh off a successful tour of Sri Lanka, Padikkal was assigned the crucial No. 3 slot, a role confirmed by South Zone skipper Tilak Varma on the eve of the match. The opposition is equally stacked with headline talent, featuring teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and captain Ishan Kishan spearheading East Zone’s charge.