Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025 on Saturday, Agarkar reflected on his three distinct roles in cricket \u2014 as a player, commentator, and now selector \u2014 saying that while playing was the most fulfilling, selection has been the most demanding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI will probably go with the easier one first. Being a commentator, and I mean no disrespect, you still work hard, spend hours on the ground. As long as you get the right words out, your job as a commentator is done and you go home,\u201d Agarkar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cPlaying gives you the most satisfaction. Every time you step on the field, you know your job is on the line, your place is on the line. One thing that goes for you as a player is that the ball or bat is in your hand. Very little margin between a win and a loss; that\u2019s on the line. More often than not, if you play well or make a mistake, it dictates where you go as a player,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former India pacer, who took 349 international wickets, said the role of a selector is uniquely difficult because so much is out of one\u2019s control once a squad is chosen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAs a selector, once you pick a squad of 15, there is nothing else in your hand. It is challenging because of the depth of cricketers we have at the moment. A lot of things are out of your hands. It is a demanding, hectic, high-pressure job. It is a big responsibility. Once you\u2019ve been a player, you know that you\u2019re shaping careers. A decision that you make can impact a player\u2019s career in a good or a bad way. You can\u2019t please everyone. So, you try and do the best job you can as a selector,\u201d Agarkar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 47-year-old, who took charge as chief selector on July 4, 2023, also acknowledged the intense scrutiny that comes with the job, particularly in a cricket-obsessed nation like India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAs a selector, once you pick a squad of 15, there is nothing else in your hand. It is challenging because of the depth of cricketers we have at the moment. A lot of things are out of your hands. It is a demanding, hectic, high-pressure job. It is a big responsibility. Once you\u2019ve been a player, you know that you\u2019re shaping careers. A decision that you make can impact a player\u2019s career in a good or a bad way. You can\u2019t please everyone. So, you try and do the best job you can as a selector,\u201d Agarkar said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
When asked if he pays attention to social media trends such as #JusticeForShreyasIyer, Agarkar was candid: \u201cI don\u2019t. It is a no-win situation. We watch a lot of cricket through the course of the year.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n