Ramesh Powar is a leading contender for the top position on the BCCI’s five-member junior national selection panel, with reports suggesting he may head the body in charge of age-group cricket up to the Under-22 level. The former India off-spinner has recently stepped down from his role with Gujarat and is now being connected to a major move into cricket administration. Powar has a broad background in Indian cricket.
Powar has a broad background in Indian cricket. Between 2004 and 2007, he played two Test matches and 31 ODIs for India before transitioning into coaching. He has collaborated with the Indian women’s cricket team on two separate occasions and was also part of the National Cricket Academy. Most recently, he was in charge of Gujarat’s senior men’s team before concluding his tenure with the state side.
As reported by India Today on September 19, 2026, Ashish Winston Zaidi, a prominent fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh, is expected to join Powar on the junior men’s selection committee. On August 24, 2026, the BCCI launched applications for all five roles on the junior men’s selection committee, with submissions due by September 5. Each of the five positions has unique responsibilities, and the chairman’s role is anticipated to encompass the widest scope of oversight over the committee’s activities.
The committee will also play a key role in cultivating India’s emerging talent and strengthening the pipeline for senior teams. As per the BCCI, members will evaluate players by observing them in domestic and international matches before assisting in selecting squads for camps, tours, and tournaments.
During his playing career as an off-spinner, Ramesh Powar represented India in two Test matches and 31 ODIs. Following his retirement, he compiled a diverse coaching record across different formats and tiers of the game. He held two distinct terms as head of the Indian women’s team.
His second term ended when the BCCI assigned him to the National Cricket Academy as a spin-bowling coach, where he contributed to the men’s development program under VVS Laxman. In his latest role, Powar led Gujarat’s senior men’s team for one season before deciding to step down from that position. If the reported interest becomes reality, it would mark a significant move from the dressing room to a selector’s chair for the seasoned cricketer.
