BCCI men’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s absence from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) review meeting in early September is now being viewed as a possible “blessing in disguise”. According to a report in The Telegraph, the board had anticipated a heated exchange between Agarkar and former India teammate VVS Laxman, who heads the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

Agarkar’s differences with Laxman have reportedly been among the reasons behind his reluctance to extend his tenure as chief selector, with his current contract set to expire this month. However, the report suggests that the disagreement runs deeper than previously believed.

The two are reportedly “poles apart” over the functioning of the CoE and the way players’ rehabilitation programmes are being handled. A major point of concern for Agarkar is believed to be the recurring injury issues affecting senior India players. At one stage, nearly a dozen first-choice players were unavailable while undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE.

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There were also concerns within the selection setup that some players were being brought back too quickly, while selectors were allegedly not being kept fully informed about individual rehabilitation plans.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir recently acknowledged the problem, particularly with the demands it places on captain Shubman Gill. Speaking at a press conference, Gambhir admitted that the situation was a concern in both Test and ODI cricket, especially with the next World Cup scheduled in the 50-over format.

Reasons for Agarkar exit: Rohit Sharma future fiasco, difference of opinion with VVS Laxman https://t.co/FNLBPMy3ac

— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) September 20, 2026

“If I give you an honest answer, then yes (it is a problem). Especially in Test cricket and ODI cricket, because the next World Cup is in the ODI format. And more importantly, it’s not fair on a young captain as well if he doesn’t get the best team, playing consistently and regularly,” Gautam Gambhir said.

He added that his priority was to ensure Gill had access to India’s strongest available XI as consistently as possible across both red-ball and white-ball cricket.

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Laxman, meanwhile, has repeatedly defended the CoE, stressing that its role extends beyond simply managing injuries. The BCCI has also defended the delay in appointing a head of Sports Science, with the recruitment process reportedly still underway. Agarkar eventually skipped the September review meeting. While the BCCI attributed his absence to logistical reasons, subsequent reports claimed that he could have joined the discussion virtually had he opted to do so.