Ramesh Powar appointed to BCCI selection panel; Pragyan Ojha to chair committee

Ramesh Powar has been formally inducted into the BCCI men's senior national selection committee, taking the place vacated by Ajit Agarkar whose tenure ended on October 4, 2026. The appointment was made following a recommendation by the Cricket Advisory Committee, which screened and interviewed candidates at BCCI headquarters.

Pragyan Ojha has assumed the role of chairman of the reconstituted five-member panel. His appointment to the chair is based on having played the most Tests among the members of the selection committee.

The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced the decision on Monday, October 19, 2026, after the CAC unanimously recommended Powar's selection. Powar had emerged as the front-runner after interviews with five candidates, including Wasim Jaffer, Salil Ankola, Jacob Martin and Connor Williams.

Powar, who played two Tests and 31 One-Day Internationals for India, brings extensive coaching experience having served as head coach of the India women's team, Mumbai and Gujarat, and as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His tenure with the women's team included an Asia Cup title and a Commonwealth Games silver medal.

The new selection committee comprises Pragyan Ojha (Chairman), Shiv Sunder Das, R.P. Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar. Das is set to complete his maximum permissible four-year tenure at the end of December 2026.

Sources

• The Hindu

• The Indian Express