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India is all set to announce the full-strength squad for all three series in New Zealand. It will also include the squad to aid preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup in October. While the fans are curious to know the teams, questions have arisen about who will be selecting the squads after the departure of Ajit Agarkar. It has already been revealed that this is very crucial for the upcoming selections of the squad ahead of the ODI World Cup next year.
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India to announce T20I, ODI & Test Squads for New Zealand Tour; Who will pick teams in post-Agarkar era?
Former India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is set to chair the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) senior men’s selection committee meeting this week, as per a report in Cricbuzz. He will be the first of the post-Ajit Agarkar era, as the panel prepares to name squads for the upcoming multi-format tour of New Zealand.
Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of the senior selection committee formally ended on 4 October 2026. The former India all-rounder, who took charge in July 2023, oversaw a successful period that included the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, the 2025 Champions Trophy title and the defence of the T20 World Cup earlier this year. It did not come as shocking as he had indicated he would not seek an extension. Later, his exit was confirmed when BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board would decide on a permanent successor after the contract expired.
Pragyan Ojha set to act as interim chief of BCCI selection committee after Ajit Agarkar’s exit
In the interim, Ojha has assumed leadership of the four-member panel, which currently includes Ojha, Shiv Sundar Das, Ajay Ratra and RP Singh. Sources close to the development indicate that Ojha, who played 24 Test matches for India, will preside over the first selection meeting of the new phase. It remains unclear whether his role will become permanent or remain temporary until a full-time appointment is made. Reports have previously linked both Ojha and former wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel with the permanent post. Patel, as per the rumours, has been the frontrunner for the permanent post; however, there is no confirmation so far.
When is the BCCI senior men’s selection committee meeting?
The selection committee is expected to meet between 5 and 11 October to finalise squads for the New Zealand tour, which begins on 22 October. It has been reported that it will function with the four members until the appointment of the new selector.
The assignment is one of the busiest of the Indian calendar and includes five T20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals and two Test matches, along with India A fixtures. Full-strength sides are anticipated for each of the senior series.
The tight schedule between the final ODI and the first Test creates logistical challenges, and that's why everyone is curious about the selectors' meetings. Selectors may need to release certain Test specialists early from the white-ball squad so they can prepare adequately for the red-ball contests. The panel will also pick an India A side for a three-Test series in New Zealand that overlaps with the senior tour window.
A meeting between head coach Gautam Gambhir and the four selectors had already taken place in Guwahati in late September, on the sidelines of the West Indies ODI series, to discuss the New Zealand plans. Agarkar was not present at that discussion. More recently, the formal selection meeting was reportedly delayed slightly while the panel awaited a fitness update on pacer Prasidh Krishna, underlining the importance of current form and availability in the decision-making process.
Pragyan Ojha’s selection carries significant weight
Ojha’s addition carries particular and crucial importance as the most experienced member of the current panel in terms of Test appearances. He brings a strong background in domestic and international cricket. The transition comes at a crucial juncture for Indian cricket as the five-match ODI series in New Zealand will serve as important preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled to begin in October next year. Selectors will be looking to balance continuity with the need to blood or assess younger players across formats while maintaining a competitive core.
The New Zealand tour also marks India’s return to Test cricket in the country after a long absence. Conditions in the country traditionally favour seam bowling and can test batting techniques against the moving ball, presenting a stern examination for the Indian side under Gambhir’s coaching staff. Meanwhile, BCCI officials have not yet issued a formal public statement confirming Ojha’s interim status or the precise date of the selection meeting. However, multiple reports from sources close to the board indicate that the process is under way and that squad announcements are expected later this week.
Once the permanent chief selector is appointed, the panel is expected to expand back to its usual member strength. For Indian cricket fans, the coming days will bring clarity on the composition of the sides that will travel to New Zealand. The decisions taken under Ojha’s leadership will set the tone for the next phase of selection and could influence the trajectory of several players in the lead-up to major ICC events. The focus now shifts to the selection room, where form, fitness, balance and long-term planning will all be weighed carefully.
A look at India's T20I, ODI, Test Series schedule Vs New Zealand
The T20I leg opens at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 22 October, with subsequent matches also in Christchurch on 24 October, Wellington on 27 October, Auckland on 30 October, and Hamilton on 1 November. The five-match ODI series follows from 4 November, starting at Eden Park in Auckland and concluding at Bay Oval in Tauranga on 15 November. It will be followed by the two-Test series, which begins on 19 November at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, with the second Test scheduled for Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 27 November.
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