IND vs WI: Parthiv Patel seen speaking with Rohit Sharma in Guwahati as chief selector links persist

Parthiv Patel and Rohit Sharma were seen in conversation in Guwahati during the second ODI between India and West Indies, a meeting that has attracted attention amid reports linking Patel to the role of India’s next chief selector. There is no official confirmation that Patel has been appointed to the position.

India are contesting a three-match ODI series against West Indies, with the second game taking place in Guwahati; the hosts won the opening match in Thiruvananthapuram and aim to move 2-0 ahead. The first ODI featured centuries from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, with Kohli’s unbeaten 139 taking him past the 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket, while Kuldeep Yadav claimed four wickets. The series is being used to assess players and combinations ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The search for a new head of selectors followed the end of Ajit Agarkar’s tenure, and multiple names are being discussed in the media. Pragyan Ojha is currently handling the selection committee on an interim basis and has been mentioned in reports as a possible candidate for a full-time role. The BCCI has not yet announced a permanent replacement.

Parthiv Patel has been linked with the chief selector position in many media reports, with his background as a former India wicketkeeper-batter and his involvement in domestic and IPL cricket cited in those discussions. The final decision on the appointment rests with the BCCI, and no official confirmation has been issued. Reports continue to list both Parthiv Patel and Pragyan Ojha among the names under consideration.

Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel share a long association from their time at Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and their meeting in Guwahati during the second ODI drew notice because of that connection and the ongoing selection rumours. There is no confirmation that their conversation related to the BCCI selection role. Observers have highlighted the encounter because of the concurrent media speculation linking Patel with the chief selector post.

The chief selector vacancy remains unresolved while Pragyan Ojha fulfills interim duties and the BCCI reviews candidates. The second ODI in Guwahati will determine whether India take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, and the board has yet to announce a permanent chief selector.