The senior selection committee had pressed the transition button by dropping Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav from the Test squad in the West Indies following the loss to Australia in the World Test Championship final last month.

Ajit Agarkar’s appointment as chief selector is another step in that direction. For starters, the former all-rounder has been entrusted with the task of giving a new look to the T20I side, keeping in mind next year’s World Cup.

Agarkar will be in Port of Spain during the second Test, which begins on Thursday, to speak to head coach Rahul Dravid and provide clarity to some of the senior players on their role in the side. He will also look to enforce a transition plan in place for the Test side in consultation with the team management.

The chief selector is also likely to meet captain Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli and brief them on their responsibility going forward. Both Rohit and Kohli are in their mid-30s.

Virat Kohli. File photo

Perhaps for the first time, Rohit spoke on the transition issue in Port of Spain on Tuesday. He expressed belief that the transition will happen sooner rather than later, emphasising the importance of the role played by seniors. He acknowledged the promising performances of the youngsters and felt the senior players needed to provide them with clarity of role.

“Transition has to happen, whether today or tomorrow but I am happy that our boys who are coming in are doing well. And our role is important as we have to give them role clarity,” Rohit said.

“Now it’s up to them how they want to prepare and perform for the team. ... And we rely on those individuals and obviously they are the future of Indian cricket and they will take Indian cricket to greater heights.”

The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal has already shown a lot of promise in the first Test in Dominica.

Ishan Kishan making a good first impression in Tests, that too in an overseas contest, bodes well for the young wicketkeeper-batter.

“Ishan is a very talented guy. We’ve seen it in the short career that he’s had for India. He recently made 200 runs in limited-overs (ODI against Bangladesh last December). He has the game and the talent and we have to harness that talent,” Rohit said.

“So we need to give (him) opportunities. He’s a left-handed batter and likesto play a lot of aggressive cricket.

“If a guy has the game and needs the space to express himself, it’s up to us to provide him that space.”

The captain also said he had spoken to Ishan about his game.

“I have had a clear conversation with him on how I want him to play and have given him complete freedom. He has the game and if he wants a bit of freedom to express himself, then that is our job. We will do that with Ishan.”