Ramesh Powar replaces Ajit Agarkar in India’s men’s selection committee

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed Ramesh Powar to the Men’s Selection Committee, filling the vacancy left by Ajit Agarkar, whose tenure concluded on October 4, 2026. The Cricket Advisory Committee, made up of Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, formally confirmed the appointment on October 19, 2026.

Alongside Powar’s inclusion, Pragyan Ojha has been named Chairperson of the reconstituted panel. The position was determined by seniority, measured by the number of Test matches played. The full committee now reads: Ojha as Chairperson, Shiv Sundar Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar.

The selection process moved quickly once the application window closed on October 14, 2026. The Cricket Advisory Committee held interviews with candidates on October 15, 2026, and the final decision was announced four days later.

What does Ramesh Powar bring to the selection committee?

Powar’s international playing career spanned 2 Tests and 31 ODIs for India, giving him direct experience of the demands placed on cricketers at the highest level. That background in the national setup is now complemented by an extensive record in coaching and administration across multiple levels of the game.

His most prominent coaching role came with the India Women‘s national side, where he served as the team’s head coach. Under his guidance, the side claimed an Asia Cup title and earned a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Those achievements placed him among the more decorated coaches to have worked within the BCCI structure in recent years.

Powar also served as a bowling coach at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, a role that kept him closely connected to the development pipeline for Indian cricket. He has additionally coached the Mumbai and Gujarat domestic sides, giving him a thorough understanding of the first-class circuit from which national selectors draw their squads.

How did Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as selection committee chairman end?

Agarkar took charge of the Men’s Selection Committee in July 2023 and held the position until October 4, 2026, when his term formally came to a close. No official reason beyond the completion of his tenure has been disclosed for his departure.

The period under Agarkar’s watch produced a strong run of results for Indian cricket. The national side secured three ICC trophies, two Asia Cup titles and back-to-back Asian Games gold medals across formats during those three-plus years. Powar now joins a committee that will look to sustain that level of performance under Ojha’s leadership as Chairperson.