Pragyan Ojha named men's chief selector as Ramesh Powar joins panel after Ajit Agarkar exit

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday, October 19, 2026, named Pragyan Ojha as chairman of the men's selection committee and added Ramesh Powar to the five-member panel following Ajit Agarkar's exit.

Ojha will assume the chair on the basis of seniority by Test appearances; Wasim Jaffer had also applied for the vacancy and has 31 Test appearances compared with Ojha's 24. The selection panel includes Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh and Ajay Ratra alongside Ojha and Powar. Powar's appointment followed a selection process carried out by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, who screened and interviewed applicants at the BCCI headquarters and unanimously recommended him.

Ojha played 24 Tests, 18 One-Day Internationals and six T20Is for India and took 113 Test wickets, establishing himself as a regular in India's Test setup during his playing days. His elevation to chairperson places him at the head of the committee responsible for making key selection decisions for the men's national team.

Powar represented India in two Tests and 31 ODIs and subsequently pursued a coaching career that included roles with the India women's team, Mumbai and Gujarat. He also served as bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His tenure as head coach of the India women's team included an Asia Cup title and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.

The CAC conducted the interviews at BCCI headquarters and, according to the board, recommended Powar unanimously for the selector role. His inclusion completes the five-member panel that will handle selection duties across formats.

The BCCI recorded its appreciation for Ajit Agarkar's contribution as chairman of the men's selection committee; Agarkar had been appointed in July 2023 and, the board's release stated, the team won three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals during his tenure. The change represents a leadership transition after that period.

Men’s Selection Committee: Pragyan Ojha (Chairperson), Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra, Ramesh Powar. The five-member panel will be responsible for picking India's squads across formats.