Pragyan Ojha named chief selector as Ramesh Powar replaces Agarkar
Representative image: yogendras31 / Pixabay
The BCCI on October 19, 2026 named Pragyan Ojha chairman of the men's selection committee and appointed Ramesh Powar in Ajit Agarkar's place.
What Happened
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday, 19 October 2026, appointed former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar to its men's senior selection committee and named former left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha as the committee's chairman. Powar fills the West Zone place left vacant when Ajit Agarkar's tenure as chairman ended earlier this month. The BCCI said its Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), made up of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, interviewed the applicants and unanimously recommended Powar.
Key Facts
- Announcement: 19 October 2026, by the BCCI.
- New member: Ramesh Powar, who played 2 Tests and 31 One-Day Internationals for India.
- New chairman: Pragyan Ojha, chosen on seniority because he has played the most Tests on the panel; he played 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20 Internationals for India.
- Full panel: Pragyan Ojha (chair), Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar.
- Powar takes the West Zone seat that Ajit Agarkar held; the BCCI thanked Agarkar for his "commitment, conviction and contribution".
- The CAC of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape screened and interviewed candidates; Wasim Jaffer was among those interviewed, according to reports.
- Powar earlier coached the India women's team, including a spell from July to November 2018, according to the BCCI.
Why It Matters
The men's selection committee picks India's squads for Tests, One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals. Its choices decide which players get to represent the country, who is dropped and how young players are brought in, so a change at the top is significant for every Indian fan of international cricket.
The appointment comes at an active time. India's squads for the ODI and Test tour of New Zealand were announced recently, and the selectors will soon be judging how well those choices work and planning ahead for the next international season. Ojha was already acting as interim chairman after Agarkar's tenure ended, so his formal appointment gives the panel continuity at a busy moment.
The make-up of the panel is also notable. Ojha's selection as chairman was based on the number of Tests played, following the BCCI's approach of choosing the most senior member by Test appearances. Powar brings coaching experience to the group, having worked with the India women's team, which won an Asia Cup title and a Commonwealth Games silver medal under his guidance, according to reports. That gives the panel a member who has handled team selection and player development from the dressing-room side.
For India's place in world cricket, stable and credible selection is important. India's teams play across formats against every major side, and selectors are often criticised when results go wrong. A panel built through an interview process run by the CAC, and announced with a clear explanation of how its chairman was chosen, is the BCCI's attempt to keep that process transparent.
| Selection committee member | Role |
|---|---|
| Pragyan Ojha | Chairman (most Test appearances on the panel) |
| Shiv Sundar Das | Member |
| RP Singh | Member |
| Ajay Ratra | Member |
| Ramesh Powar | Member (West Zone, replacing Ajit Agarkar) |
Impact
Short-term: The panel, now at full strength, will handle squad decisions for India's upcoming international assignments, including any changes during the New Zealand tour.
Long-term: The new chairman's approach will shape how India's selectors balance experienced players with young talent across the three formats over the next few seasons.
Who is affected: India's international players and those hoping to break into the national side; domestic cricketers whose performances the selectors watch; the BCCI; and fans following India's results abroad.
Key Takeaway
The BCCI has made Pragyan Ojha chairman of the men's selection committee and added Ramesh Powar in place of Ajit Agarkar, completing the five-member panel.
Questions and Answers
Who is India's new chief selector?
Pragyan Ojha was named chairman of the BCCI men's senior selection committee on 19 October 2026. He was chosen on seniority, as he has played the most Tests among the panel's members.
Who replaced Ajit Agarkar on the selection committee?
Former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar took the West Zone seat that Agarkar held. The BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee interviewed candidates and unanimously recommended him.
Who are the members of the new BCCI selection committee?
The committee is made up of Pragyan Ojha (chairman), Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar.
Who was on the Cricket Advisory Committee that chose Powar?
The BCCI said the Cricket Advisory Committee of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape screened and interviewed the applicants before recommending Ramesh Powar.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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