Correspondent, 19 October: On October 19, 2026, the BCCI made a significant change to the selection committee of the Indian men's cricket team. Following the departure of Ajit Agarkar, former spinner Pragyan Ojha has been appointed as the interim chief selector. His remuneration for the new role remains unchanged, as Ojha will receive an annual salary of ₹3 crore, exactly matching the pay of the former chief selector.
Ojha is now set to head a five-member selection panel. The newly constituted committee features the fresh appointment of former spin bowler Ramesh Powar. Alongside chairman Pragyan Ojha and newcomer Powar, the panel includes Shiv Sunder Das, R.P. Singh, and Ajay Ratra. The substantial cricketing experience possessed by these five members is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the future of the Indian team.
The 38-year-old Ojha brings a strong track record to his new position, having claimed a total of 144 international wickets for India across 24 Test matches, 18 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and six T20 Internationals. In his new capacity, Ojha's primary focus will be on building a solid reserve of backup players for upcoming ICC tournaments and overseas tours.
Furthermore, the combined expertise of the Ojha and Powar duo is anticipated to strengthen the Indian spin bowling setup. Their vast experience will provide considerable assistance in grooming new, talented players for the national side.
