According to BCCI sources, former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha is scheduled to take over as the interim chief selector of the Indian cricket team, succeeding Ajit Agarkar. Agarkar’s time as chief selector is anticipated to end soon, leading to a change in leadership of the senior selection panel.
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.
The spinner represented India in 24 Test matches, 18 One Day Internationals ( ODIs), and six Twenty20 Internationals ( T20Is), claiming 144 international wickets in total. In Test matches, he claimed 113 wickets, his best performance being 6 for 47. Ojha’s last first-class cricket appearance was in 2018, in Dehradun. He also stood out in the Indian Premier League ( IPL), playing for the Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians. He played a crucial role in the Deccan Chargers’ IPL championship-winning squad in 2009.
Since Ojha is anticipated to head the committee temporarily, the panel is set to tackle a heavy workload in the coming weeks. The top priority is finalising the squads for India’s tour of New Zealand, scheduled from October 22 to November 27, 2026. The tour includes a five-match T20I series, a three-match ODI series, and a two-Test series. The selectors are also anticipated to announce a squad for an India A three-Test series scheduled within the same tour window, thereby increasing the workload during the transition phase.
Following the T20I series, a five-match ODI series will commence in Auckland on November 4. The tour will end with a two-Test series, with games set for Wellington and Christchurch starting November 19. The BCCI has not issued any official statement regarding a permanent replacement for Agarkar. Parthiv Patel has been mentioned in reports as a potential candidate for the full-time role, but as of September 30, 2026, no official appointment has been made.
