The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a reshuffle in the senior men’s selection panel, with former India spinner Pragyan Ojha set to head the committee. The decision follows a selection exercise carried out by the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjpe, which recommended former India spinner Ramesh Powar for inclusion in the panel. Ojha’s appointment as chairperson is based on seniority in Test cricket, as outlined in the BCCI’s media advisory.
Composition of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee
| Rank | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pragyan Ojha | Chairperson (Chief Selector) |
| 2 | Shiva Sundar Das | Selection Committee Member |
| 3 | RP Singh | Selection Committee Member |
| 4 | Ajay Ratra | Selection Committee Member |
| 5 | Ramesh Powar | Selection Committee Member |
Powar’s Journey from International Cricket to Coaching
Powar featured for India in two Test matches and 31 ODIs during his playing career. Following his retirement, he transitioned into coaching and became involved in several important assignments across Indian cricket.
One of his prominent roles was as head coach of the Indian women’s cricket team. During his coaching stint, the side won the Asia Cup and claimed a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, marking a significant achievement for Indian women’s cricket. Powar has also coached Mumbai and Gujarat at the domestic level and served as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
India’s Major Honours During Agarkar’s Leadership
The BCCI also recognised the contribution of Ajit Agarkar, who became chairman of the senior men’s selection committee in July 2023. His tenure coincided with a successful period for Indian cricket, with the national team collecting several major international honours.
India secured three ICC trophies and won two Asia Cup titles during this period. The country’s teams also claimed gold medals at two successive Asian Games, adding to the achievements recorded during Agarkar’s time as chief selector.