Pragyan Ojha has become the new chairman of the national selection committee, and Ramesh Powar has joined the committee

XtraTime Newsdesk

Pragyan Ojha has been appointed as the new chairman of the BCCI men's selection committee, replacing Ajit Agarkar. Ramesh Powar has also been named as a member of the five-member selection panel.

Following interviews conducted at the BCCI headquarters under the supervision of the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjpe, Powar was unanimously selected for the panel. Pragyan Ojha will head the committee based on seniority. The five-member selection committee comprises Pragyan Ojha (chairman), Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar. There had been speculation that Parthiv Patel would replace Agarkar, but the BCCI ultimately decided to place its faith in Ojha.

Ajit Agarkar took over as chairman in July 2023, and his tenure ended on October 4, 2026. During his tenure, India won the T20 World Cup in both 2024 and 2026, along with the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. The Indian team also won two Asia Cup titles and secured gold medals in consecutive Asian Games editions. Recognising the team's success during his tenure, the BCCI has acknowledged Agarkar's commitment and contribution to Indian cricket.

Ojha joined the selection committee in September 2025, following the BCCI's 94th Annual General Meeting. After serving as a selector for just over a year, he has now been elevated to the position of chairman. The former left-arm spinner represented India in 24 Test matches, 18 ODIs and six T20Is.

Meanwhile, Ramesh Powar has also represented India at the international level. He previously served as the head coach of the Indian women's cricket team. Under his coaching, the women's team won the Asia Cup and secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.