Mumbai: Former left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is now the chairman of India’s senior men’s selection committee, after the BCCI on Monday, 19 October 2026, named former offspinner Ramesh Powar to the seat left empty by Ajit Agarkar. Board secretary Devajit Saikia announced the decision, The Hindu reported.
Powar was chosen by the Cricket Advisory Committee of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, which met at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to screen and interview applicants. According to the board’s statement, the committee unanimously recommended his appointment.
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Why Pragyan Ojha gets the chair
The chairmanship was settled by a simple rule. “Based on seniority (most Tests), Mr Pragyan Ojha will chair the Committee,” its statement said. ESPNcricinfo explained that the chair goes to the member with the most international experience, with Tests given preference.
Ojha played 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is for India, The Indian Express and The Times of India reported. He joined the selection panel at the BCCI’s 94th Annual General Meeting in September 2025, alongside former pacer RP Singh, and has now taken over the chair after just over a year on the committee.
He was not new to the role either. ESPNcricinfo said Ojha had served as interim head after Agarkar’s term ended on 4 October, and led the panel that picked the India squads for the New Zealand tour, the upcoming all format tour.
How the seniority rule shaped the race
The rule also explains why the vacancy did not produce a new chairman. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer confirmed earlier in the week that he had applied, and ESPNcricinfo noted that with 31 Tests he would have become chairman had he been picked. Powar was selected ahead of Jaffer and the others, which kept Ojha at the top.
Yahoo Sports argued that the BCCI preferred continuity under Ojha, with the 2027 ODI World Cup not far away, and that Powar’s smaller Test record allowed Ojha to stay in charge. The board itself did not comment on that reasoning.
Cricbuzz reported that the interviews were held on 15 October. The Hindu and Sportstar said the Cricket Advisory Committee spoke to five candidates: Powar, Jaffer, Salil Ankola, Jacob Martin and Connor Williams. Both papers had reported on Saturday that Powar was the front runner.
Who is Ramesh Powar
Powar is a Mumbai offspinner who played two Tests and 31 ODIs for India between 2004 and 2007, ESPNcricinfo noted. After he retired in 2015 he moved into coaching, and that side of his career is what stands out on the new panel.
He had two separate spells as head coach of the India women’s team, during which the side won an Asia Cup title and a Commonwealth Games silver medal. He has also coached Mumbai and Gujarat in domestic cricket and worked as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The women’s side he once coached most recently beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets to seal a T20I series in Raipur.
The Hindu wrote that the new line up combines former India players with experience in different parts of the game, and that Powar’s coaching background is likely to add another perspective to selection.
The new men’s selection committee
- Pragyan Ojha (Chairperson)
- Shiv Sunder Das
- RP Singh
- Ajay Ratra
- Ramesh Powar
There could be another change soon. The Hindu and Sportstar both reported that Das will complete four years, the maximum tenure allowed for a selector, at the end of December.
Agarkar leaves after a run of titles
Agarkar was appointed chairman in July 2023 and his tenure ended on 4 October 2026. The Times of India said he chose not to seek an extension. “Agarkar didn’t ask for an extension. As there was no interest from his side, the BCCI has decided to look for a new chief selector,” a source told The Indian Express.
The Indian Express had reported in August that board officials planned to discuss a one year extension with Agarkar, amid differences over Rohit Sharma’s future in ODIs ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. In the end, according to the paper’s source, Agarkar did not ask for one.
In its statement, the BCCI placed on record its appreciation for Agarkar’s “commitment, conviction and contribution” and said he had led the committee “through a significant period for Indian cricket”. Under his panel, India won three ICC trophies, the T20 World Cups of 2024 and 2026 and the 2025 Champions Trophy, along with two Asia Cup titles in 2023 and 2025 and back to back Asian Games gold medals, according to the board and Sportstar. The Indian Express added that India also reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup during his tenure.
What lies ahead for the Ojha panel
The squads for New Zealand are already picked, so the first big test of the reshaped committee will come with the selections that follow that tour. With the 2027 ODI World Cup ahead, the big calls on the one day side will now rest with Ojha and his four colleagues.
Selection panels have always been a talking point in Indian cricket, and readers who want the bigger picture can look at our feature on the history of cricket in India.
FAQ
Who is India’s new chief selector?
Pragyan Ojha now chairs the senior men’s selection committee, based on having played the most Tests among its members.
Who replaced Ajit Agarkar on the panel?
Former India offspinner Ramesh Powar, chosen by the Cricket Advisory Committee of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape.
Who else is on the committee?
Shiv Sunder Das, RP Singh and Ajay Ratra, along with Ojha and Powar.
Sources
- BCCI media release, 19 October 2026: Cricket Advisory Committee process; Powar appointment; Ojha to chair on seniority; tribute to Agarkar; full committee.
- ESPNcricinfo, 19 October 2026: chair by seniority with Tests preferred; Agarkar term ended 4 October; Ojha as interim head and New Zealand squads; Jaffer and 31 Tests; Powar career dates.
- The Hindu, 19 October 2026: Devajit Saikia announcement; five candidates; Das tenure ends in December; coaching perspective.
- Sportstar, 19 October 2026: list of ICC titles and Asia Cups under Agarkar; candidates; Das tenure.
- The Indian Express, 19 October 2026: Ojha 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, six T20Is; source quote on Agarkar not seeking an extension; August report on extension talks.
- The Times of India, 19 October 2026: Ojha joined at the 94th AGM in September 2025; Agarkar did not seek an extension.
- Cricbuzz, 19 October 2026: interviews held on 15 October; BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
- Yahoo Sports, 19 October 2026: analysis of the seniority rule and continuity before the 2027 ODI World Cup.