The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday formally appointed former India off-spinner Ramesh Powar to its senior Men’s Selection Committee and named left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha as the new chairman of the five-member panel.
The announcement, made via an official media advisory and the BCCI’s social media channels, follows the end of Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman on October 4. Ojha, who had been serving as interim chairman, takes over the leadership role on the basis of seniority, determined by the number of Test matches played. He featured in 24 Tests during his international career.
The New Panel
The reconstituted Men’s Selection Committee is as follows:
- Pragyan Ojha (Chairperson)
- Shiv Sundar Das
- RP Singh
- Ajay Ratra
- Ramesh Powar
This panel is responsible for selecting India’s senior men’s teams across all formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is — for upcoming international assignments.
Selection Process
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), consisting of former India batters Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, conducted the appointment process. The CAC met at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, screened applications, and interviewed candidates before unanimously recommending Powar for the vacancy created by Agarkar’s exit.
Other candidates who appeared for interviews included former India players Salil Ankola, Wasim Jaffer, Jacob Martin, and Connor Williams. The interviews were held around mid-October.
Ramesh Powar’s Background
Powar, 48, represented India in two Test matches and 31 One-Day Internationals between 2004 and 2007. A useful lower-order batter as well, he scored over 4,000 runs in first-class cricket with seven centuries.
After retirement, he transitioned into coaching and built an extensive résumé. He served as head coach of the Indian women’s team, guiding them to an Asia Cup title and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. He has also coached Mumbai and Gujarat, and worked as bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His dual experience as an international player and high-level coach is expected to bring a valuable perspective to the selection process.
Appreciation for Ajit Agarkar
The BCCI placed on record its appreciation for Agarkar’s “commitment, conviction and contribution” during his tenure as chairman, which began in July 2023. Under the panel he led, India enjoyed a highly successful period that included three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles, and consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games.
Context and Outlook
Ojha’s elevation provides continuity, as he was already a member of the committee and had stepped in on an interim basis after Agarkar’s term concluded. Shiv Sundar Das is approaching the maximum permissible tenure for a selector, which ends in December.
The appointments come at a significant time for Indian cricket, with the team preparing for major campaigns, including the lead-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. The new panel’s decisions will shape squad compositions and team strategies in the months ahead.
