Navjot Singh Sidhu breaks silence on ‘BCCI should remove Ajit Agarkar, Gautam Gambhir’ post; ‘Never said… Shame on you’

Social media is increasingly becoming dangerous as viral posts often attributed to popular names turn out to be fake. Recently, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu became a victim of fake news when a user attributed a quote on BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir to him, just during the ongoing India vs Australia ODI series.

After India's loss to Australia in the first ODI in Perth on 19 October, an X user named Jod Insane posted a picture of Gambhir and Agarkar, with a statement that read “If India wants to win the 2027 World Cup, then BCCI should remove Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir as soon as possible and hand over the captaincy to Rohit Sharma again with full respect.”

The user attributed the quote to Navjot Sidhu. The 62-year-old on Monday took to X to clarify his stance and reacted strongly. He tweeted the post and stated, “Never said it, don't spread fake news, never imagined it. Shame on you.” Navjot Sindhu celebrates his birthday on 20 October.

The Indian team are currently in Australia to play a three-match ODI series and five T20Is. This is not the first time Indian cricketers have been victims of fake news. Earlier, the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin have become victims of fake news.

Soon after Navjot Sidhu reacted, the user has taken down his post from X. Interestingly, Gambhir on Monday posted a picture of him and Navjot Sidhu on the occasion of latter's birthday. Navjot Sidhu turned 63.

Indian team's show after Ajit Agarkar's arrival

Even since Agarkar was appointed as the BCCI chief of selectors in June 2023, the Indian team have performed brilliantly. After his arrival, the Indian team won the 2023 Asia Cup, became 2023 ODI World Cup runners-up and won the T20 World Cup in 2024, ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup, both in 2025.

Agarkar was initially handed a two-year contract before it was extended to June 2026 earlier this year. Under BCCI rules, the term of a BCCI selector is four years. That means, if India perform well in the 2026 T20 World Cup, the former all-rounder can get another extension for a year.

It must be noted that India's ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup triumph in 2025 came under Gambhir, who has his contract till 2027 ODI World Cup. Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid in 2024.