The BCCI has named Pragyan Ojha chairman of the senior men’s selection committee and added Ramesh Powar to the panel, filling the place left by Ajit Agarkar, whose term ended on 4 October. Ojha takes the chair on seniority, having played the most Tests of the five selectors.
Mumbai, India: After a fortnight without a permanent chairman, India’s selection room has settled its leadership. In a media advisory on Monday, 19 October, the BCCI confirmed that Pragyan Ojha, who had been leading the panel in an interim capacity since Agarkar’s contract expired, will chair the senior men’s committee, and that Powar completes a five-man group.
Seniority settles the chair
The board was direct about its reasoning: based on seniority, measured in Tests played, Ojha chairs the committee. The left-arm spinner played 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is for India and joined the panel in September 2025 alongside RP Singh. Shiv Sundar Das, one Test behind on 23, is the next most-capped member. Ojha was already involved in picking the squads for the tour of New Zealand, which were named earlier this month while he was still leading in an interim capacity.
How Powar got the job
Powar’s place came through an application process for one vacancy. The Cricket Advisory Committee of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape interviewed candidates at BCCI headquarters last week and unanimously recommended him. The other names in the running were Wasim Jaffer, Salil Ankola, Jacob Martin and Connor Williams.
Powar, 48, played two Tests and 31 ODIs for India between 2004 and 2007. His coaching record is broad. He twice served as head coach of the India women’s team, winning an Asia Cup title and a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and he later worked as a spin-bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. He coached Mumbai to a Vijay Hazare Trophy title and ran Gujarat’s senior men’s side for two seasons before recently stepping down. He also worked as a consultant coach with Australia’s Under-19 team during its recent ODI series against India.
Agarkar’s tenure closes
Agarkar had chaired the committee since July 2023. His term ended on 4 October after he decided against seeking an extension. The BCCI thanked him for his “commitment, conviction and contribution” and credited his committee with a period in which India won three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles and gold medals at consecutive Asian Games.
What happens next
The panel is now Ojha as chairman, with Das, Singh, Ajay Ratra and Powar, and it will pick India’s men’s teams across all formats. The board has not disclosed how long Ojha’s or Powar’s appointments run. With the New Zealand squads already in place, the first real test of the reshaped committee will come with the selections that follow.
