Pragyan Ojha is likely to become India’s next chief selector after Ajit Agarkar’s exit

Former India left-armer Pragyan Ojha is likely to become India’s next chief selector following the departure of Ajit Agarkar, with the 39-year-old currently serving as the interim head of the four-member selection panel.

Ojha was among the four selectors who held a lengthy discussion with India head coach Gautam Gambhir in Guwahati on Tuesday, a day before the second ODI against the West Indies. Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra and RP Singh were also part of the meeting while outgoing chief selector Agarkar was not present.

The encounter took place on the sidelines of the Barsapara Stadium while the West Indies were going through training. The Indian team took a day off after traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Guwahati.

The presence of the entire selection committee during the bilateral series is not a given, with discussions understood to have centered on India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand and the squads to be finalized for the series.

WHO IS PRAGYAN OJHA?

Ojha, who played 24 Tests for India, took charge of the selection committee on an interim basis following Agarkar’s departure. He is now in line to take over as chief selector on a full-time basis.

The selectors have a busy schedule ahead of them, with India scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests during their tour of New Zealand from October 22 to November 27.

The selection also needs to complete the India A squad for the three-Test tour of New Zealand starting on October 24.

The tour of New Zealand will begin with a five-match T20I series, with the opening game scheduled in Christchurch on October 22. A five-match ODI series will follow from November 4 before the two-Test series begins in Wellington on November 19.

INDIA GET READY FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS

With India’s international calendar packed with various formats, workload and player availability are likely to be among the challenges facing the selectors.

The final ODI tour of New Zealand is scheduled for November 15 in Tauranga, just four days before the first Test in Wellington. Therefore, some players who are part of both the squads could be released early to start preparations for the Test series.

The tour will also form part of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, giving Gambhir and the selectors another opportunity to assess players’ combinations and workloads.

The Indian management and selection committee will also have to balance the demands of the senior teams with the India A program providing another avenue to evaluate players ahead of the long international season.

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