3 names likely to replace Ajit Agarkar as India’s chief selector

Ajit Agarkar‘s tenure as Chairman of the Senior Men’s Selection Committee came to an end on October 4, 2026, after he chose not to seek an extension. He had been appointed to the role on July 4, 2023, replacing Chetan Sharma.

During his time in charge, Agarkar oversaw squads for three ICC tournaments — the T20 World Cup 2024, the Champions Trophy 2025, and the T20 World Cup 2026 — all of which India won. The BCCI has since opened applications for the vacancy, which must be filled by a candidate from the West Zone, with a submission deadline of October 14, 2026. Pragyan Ojha is currently serving as interim chairman of the selection committee.

1. Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel is widely regarded as the frontrunner for the West Zone vacancy on the senior men’s selection panel. Multiple reports from as early as September 2026 identified him as the leading contender for the role. Patel played 25 Tests, 38 ODIs, and 2 T20Is for India, comfortably clearing the BCCI’s eligibility threshold of a minimum of 7 Tests and 30 first-class matches, or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class matches, along with at least five years since retirement.

He made his Test debut in 2002 against England at Trent Bridge at the age of 17 years and 153 days, becoming the youngest wicketkeeper in Test cricket at the time. More recently, he has been involved with the Gujarat Titans IPL franchise in a scouting and coaching capacity.

2. Sameer Dighe

Sameer Dighe, a former India cricketer who made his national debut at the age of 31, has emerged as a candidate according to cricket expert Aakash Chopra. On October 9, 2026, Chopra stated on his YouTube channel that his close sources pointed to Dighe as a name in contention, adding that he had expected more prominent names to surface.

Dighe represented India in 6 Tests and 23 ODIs before retiring from the game. After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching and was appointed as Mumbai’s head coach for one season. His familiarity with the Mumbai cricket ecosystem, which falls within the West Zone, makes him a credible candidate under the BCCI’s eligibility rules.

3. Ramesh Powar

Ramesh Powar, the former India off-spinner, brings a broad administrative and coaching background to the table. He has served as head coach of the Indian women’s national team and also led Gujarat’s senior side as head coach.

Powar has recently been named to lead the BCCI’s Junior National Selection Committee, where his responsibilities include overseeing age-group cricket pathways across the country. His experience across multiple levels of Indian cricket gives him a strong profile, though it should be noted that his confirmed role at present is on the junior panel rather than the senior men’s selection committee. The BCCI is expected to finalise the appointment after the October 14, 2026 deadline passes.