Ajit Agarkar has stepped away from the selection process. His final responsibility was serving as chief selector in choosing the squad for the home ODI series against the West Indies. The BCCI is reportedly set to appoint former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha as the interim leader of the current four-member selection committee, with the 24-Test veteran also expected to be formally elevated to the role.
Reports citing BCCI sources have confirmed that Ojha is anticipated to assume the position right after Agarkar’s departure. Agarkar’s final role as chief selector was supervising the picking of India’s squad for the forthcoming home ODI series against West Indies. The BCCI has not provided any specific reason for his departure, and as of September 30, 2026, no official public announcement confirming Ojha’s interim appointment had been issued.
On Tuesday, head coach Gautam Gambhir was observed engaging in an extended conversation with the four current members of the selection committee, Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra, R P Singh, and Ojha at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, the venue for India’s second match against the West Indies in the series. Agarkar was absent. As per a PTI report, Ojha has been appointed interim head of the selection committee and is expected to become the next chief selector.
The challenging aspect of the selection process will be coordinating the overlap between the ODI and Test schedules. India is scheduled to play the final ODI of the tour on November 15, followed by the first Test in Wellington just four days afterwards. That might involve letting some regular Test players go early for training, which would leave selectors with a tough decision, especially since both formats matter in this cycle. The entire tour will take place from October 22 to November 27, starting with a five-match T20I series in Christchurch.
Ojha played for India in all three formats over a career that extended from the late 2000s into the early 2010s. Across 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, and 6 T20Is, he ended with a total of 144 international wickets. His most successful domain was test cricket, where he took 113 wickets at an average of 30.27. His last international cricket appearance was in 2013 at the Wankhede Stadium, marking both his final match and Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement from the sport. Ojha took ten wickets in that match and was awarded Player of the Match, marking a fitting and memorable end to his international career.
