India’s men’s selection committee has a new chairman. The BCCI has appointed former left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha as chief selector after Ajit Agarkar’s tenure came to an end, and has added another former spinner, Ramesh Powar, to the five-member panel.

What the BCCI announced

According to the BCCI’s release, Pragyan Ojha will chair the Men’s Selection Committee, replacing Ajit Agarkar. Ramesh Powar has been appointed as a member of the committee following a selection process conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). Agarkar’s tenure as chairman ended on 4 October, and the BCCI had invited applications for a place on the panel.

The BCCI also thanked Agarkar for his commitment, conviction and contribution during his time as chairman, and noted that he oversaw three ICC titles during his tenure. The release did not name the titles in the reports we reviewed.

Why Ojha gets the top job

Ojha’s elevation is based on seniority, not on a separate vote. The BCCI said that, based on seniority, meaning the most Test matches played, Ojha will chair the committee. He played 24 Tests, the most among the five members. Ojha was already a member of the panel, and one report describes him as taking over after an interim stint.

The new committee

The reconstituted Men’s Selection Committee, with Tests played by each member as reported, is:

• Pragyan Ojha (Chairperson): 24 Tests
• Shiv Sundar Das: 23 Tests
• RP Singh: 14 Tests
• Ajay Ratra: 6 Tests
• Ramesh Powar: 2 Tests

How Powar got the job

The BCCI said Powar was appointed after a selection process run by the Cricket Advisory Committee, which comprises Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape. The CAC’s recommendation of Powar was unanimous, according to a report. Powar, an off-spinner from Mumbai, is also a former India coach, according to the reports.

Agarkar’s years

Agarkar was appointed chairman of the selection committee in July 2023, after Chetan Sharma resigned in February that year amid a controversial sting operation by a TV channel. He was a former India fast bowler who played 26 Tests, 191 ODIs and four T20Is. His time in the job spanned a period of several ICC titles for India, and the new committee inherits that run.

What it means

The new panel is a mix of continuity and change. Four of the five members have experience on the previous committee, with Powar the only new addition, which suggests the board wants stability. Ojha, a former spinner with the most Test caps in the group, takes over at the top, and Powar’s arrival adds another voice with coaching experience. The new chairman has not commented on his plans.

What happens next

The committee’s first big decisions will be the squads for India’s upcoming international assignments, and its first public statements, if any, will be watched for signals about selection policy.

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