Pragyan Ojha Named Chief Selector, Ramesh Powar Appointed to BCCI Men’s Selection Committee

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially named Pragyan Ojha as the chairman of the national selectors, while former off-spinner Ramesh Powar is the new inclusion in the five-member panel. The changes follow the conclusion of Ajit Agarkar’s successful stint as the chairman of the chief selectors. Ojha was already part of the panel but has now been elevated to lead the committee based on the BCCI’s established seniority protocol.

CAC Unanimously Recommended Ramesh Powar

Ramesh Powar’s appointment came after a rigorous interview process conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Pranjape. The Committee met at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai to screen and interview candidates before taking the final call.

 

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Following the selection process, the BCCI released an official statement confirming the roles of Pragyan Ojha and Ramesh Powar.

“The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Mr Ashok Malhotra and Mr Jatin Paranjape, conducted a selection process for the appointment of a member of the Men’s Selection Committee. The CAC met at the BCCI HQ to screen and interview applicants and, following the process, unanimously recommended the appointment of Mr Ramesh Powar.”

Key Details

Ajit Agarkar’s tenure ended on October 4, 2026, after a successful stint that oversaw India’s victories in the 2024 & 2026 T20 World Cups, 2025 Champions Trophy, and multiple Asia Cups.

• Pragyan Ojha (Chairman): Former left‑arm spinner, represented India in 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, and 6 T20Is. His Test experience places him ahead in seniority.
• Ramesh Powar (Member): Former off‑spinner, played 2 Tests and 31 ODIs for India. Has extensive coaching experience, including as India Women’s head coach and domestic team coach of Mumbai and Gujarat.
• New Selection Committee Composition: Pragyan Ojha (Chairperson), Shiv Sundar Das, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ajay Ratra, Ramesh Powar.

Regarding Ojha’s elevation, the BCCI confirmed:

“Based on seniority (most Tests), Mr Pragyan Ojha will chair the Committee.”

Ojha initially joined the selection committee in September 2025 alongside former pacer RP Singh. Having served on the panel for over a year and briefly holding interim responsibilities, Ojha now officially leads the group as India builds towards the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. He was also the interim chairperson after Ajit Agarkar stepped down from the role in September 2026. 

The newly structured panel will immediately take charge of selecting national squads across all formats for upcoming bilateral series and major ICC events. The first assignment for them is India’s Tour of New Zealand 2026, for which the squads across the three formats have been selected already.