Pragyan Ojha selected as chief selector after Ajit Agarkar’s exit: Know the criteria behind BCCI’s pick

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed former India spinner Pragyan Ojha as the new chairman of the men's selection committee, following Ajit Agarkar’s exit from the role. The appointment makes Ojha the new chief selector of India in 2026, with his position as chairperson decided by seniority based on the number of Test matches played.

The BCCI new chief selector will lead a five-member panel responsible for selecting India’s men’s cricket team. The BCCI selection committee members 2026 are Pragyan Ojha, Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, conducted the selection process that led to Ramesh Powar’s entry into the panel.

What criteria were used to select Pragyan Ojha as India’s chief selector?

The main criterion behind Pragyan Ojha’s appointment as BCCI chief selector is seniority based on the number of Test matches played for India. According to the BCCI announcement, the member with the most Test appearances among the selected committee members becomes the chairperson. Ojha played 24 Test matches for India, placing him ahead of the other members of the new India selection panel.

The Pragyan Ojha selection committee chairman role is therefore based on his Test experience rather than a separate election for the chief selector position. Shiv Sundar Das played 23 Tests, RP Singh played 14, Ajay Ratra played six, and Ramesh Powar played two Tests for India. With 24 Test appearances, Ojha has the highest number among the five members.

For those searching who is Pragyan Ojha, he is a former Indian left-arm spinner who represented the country in 24 Tests and 18 ODIs. His international playing experience and place on the selection committee put him in line for the chairmanship under the seniority rule. The broader BCCI chief selector criteria also include eligibility requirements for applicants, while the CAC is responsible for assessing candidates for committee vacancies.

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Ajit Agarkar’s exit: New BCCI selection committee members and Ramesh Powar’s entry

Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of the BCCI men’s selection committee ended on October 4, 2026, leading to a change at the top of the panel. Agarkar had held the position since July 2023, during which India won three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals, according to the BCCI. Following his exit, Pragyan Ojha was appointed the new chief selector based on the seniority rule.

The Ramesh Powar selection committee appointment followed a process conducted by the CAC at BCCI headquarters. Powar represented India in two Tests and 31 ODIs between 2004 and 2007 and later coached the India women’s team, Mumbai and Gujarat. He also served as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and helped the India women’s team win an Asia Cup title and a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2022.

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The new India selection panel consists of Pragyan Ojha as chairperson, alongside Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar. These BCCI selection committee members will be responsible for choosing India’s men’s teams, with Ojha leading the panel under the seniority rule. The appointment of the BCCI chief selector completes the leadership change following Agarkar’s departure and confirms the committee’s five-member structure.