Ajit Agarkar's chair in dark clouds? Pragyan Ojha gets orders to be ready as BCCI floats official order

Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha is expected to become a member of the senior selection committee as a national selector. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to make changes to the committee, including chief selector Ajit Agarkar, SS Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra, and S Sharath.

India have managed smooth leadership transitions during Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector. Shubman Gill was named the Test captain, and Suryakumar Yadav took over the T20I captaincy. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from T20Is and Tests, and Ravichandran Ashwin stepped away from all formats.

Pragyan Ojha to Join Ajit Agarkar’s Selection Committee

The BCCI has invited applications for two positions on the men’s national selection committee, with applicants required to have played a minimum of seven Test matches, or 30 first-class matches, or 10 ODIs, alongside 20 first-class matches.

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Candidates must have retired at least five years ago and not served on any BCCI cricket committee for a total of five years. According to the Times of India, Pragyan Ojha is expected to join as the national selector from the South Zone, replacing S. Sharath.

BCCI Update: Former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is likely to become a national selector from South Zone, with S Sharath, currently in the senior selection committee, set to be the junior national chief selector again..

— Gaurav Gupta (@toi_gauravG) August 22, 2025

Sharath is completing his four-year term, the maximum allowed under BCCI rules. He could return as chief selector of the junior selection committee, a role he previously held.

Pragyan Ojha’s Performances for India in International Cricket

Pragyan Ojha made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in the 2008 Asia Cup, taking 2/43. He went on to play his Test debut a year later against Sri Lanka, claiming four wickets. Ojha was considered a key candidate to partner Harbhajan Singh after Anil Kumble’s retirement.

The left-arm spinner reached the peak of his Test career around 2011, picking up 100 wickets in Tests between 2010 and 2013.

Ojha took 113 wickets in 24 Tests at an average of 30.26, including seven five-wicket hauls. He played his final Test in November 2013, which was also Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match. The spinner finished with 113 Test wickets, 21 ODI wickets, and 10 T20I wickets.

Ajit Agarkar’s Tenure as Chief Selector Extended Until June 2026

Ajit Agarkar’s tenure has reportedly been extended until June 2026, with the BCCI planning to invite fresh applications for the national selection committee. The board is satisfied with the current panel and is likely to make only one change by replacing Sharath with Pragyan Ojha.

“The BCCI will be calling for fresh applications going ahead. However, it is unclear whether the board will retain Das and Banerjee. The board is reportedly pleased with the current bunch and only one potential change could be made to the panel,” the Indian Express report mentioned.

Agarkar took charge in July 2023 and has overseen a successful period for Indian cricket, including winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Notably, the team also reached the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

The official update on the panel change is expected during the BCCI’s annual general meeting in September.

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