Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a decisive financial step to overhaul and upgrade its senior men’s selection panel following the exit of former Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar. As per a PTI report, the board has reportedly boosted the budget allocated for the selection committee.
BCCI raises selection committee budget amid search for new chief selector
In recent years, the remuneration structure for Indian selectors has faced criticism for being vastly disconnected from the lucrative financial ecosystem of modern cricket. Former international stars often earn significantly higher revenues through broadcasting deals, IPL coaching stints, franchise consultancies, and commercial endorsements compared to the fixed annual retainer provided for serving on the national selection committee.
BCCI has finalised a considerable budget increase for the selection committee’s overall expenses, bumping it up to ₹19.35 crore for the 2026–27 cycle. This marks a Rs 5 crore increase following recent additions to the panel, building upon the previous increase to Rs 17.45 crore when selectors like RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha joined the setup.
Pragyan Ojha continues as India's interim chief selector
Following the completion of Ajit Agarkar’s tenure earlier this month, the chief selector’s post officially became vacant. While the board conducts its search for a permanent successor, former India spinner Pragyan Ojha is currently serving as India’s interim chief selector.
Ojha, who represents the South Zone on the panel, holds the distinction of being the most experienced Test cricketer among the current active selection members, having played 24 Tests for India. Alongside committee members like SS Das, RP Singh, and Ajay Ratra, Ojha has assumed leadership of the selection proceedings. Under his interim stewardship, the panel is overseeing critical team selections, including upcoming white-ball and red-ball series against New Zealand.
Should the BCCI fail to find an immediate candidate whose experience and credentials surpass the current panel members, Ojha could potentially retain full-time charge or lead the committee for an extended transition period.
Parthiv Patel out of contention for Chief selector role
As the search for Agarkar’s replacement intensified, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel emerged as a prominent frontrunner. Representing the West Zone, the same zone previously represented by Agarkar, Patel was widely tipped by industry insiders and media reports to apply for the vacant post and possibly assume the chairman's role.
However, in a major twist to the recruitment process, Parthiv Patel did not apply for the post before the October 14 deadline, effectively taking himself out of the contention to become India’s new chief selector.
Reports indicate that Patel preferred to maintain his current professional commitments, which include IPL coaching roles (such as his association with Gujarat Titans) and active commentary contracts. Furthermore, the growing influence of VVS Laxman—Head of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), who will now be attending all selection committee meetings—has altered the operational dynamics of the role, prompting several potential applicants to weigh their options carefully. With Patel opting out, alternative names from the West Zone like Ramesh Powar and Samir Dighe have re-entered discussions.
Two 100-Test legends turn down bCCI's offer
The challenge for the BCCI is not merely financial; it stems from a broader reluctance among elite former players to take up public-facing administrative roles. In its pursuit of a high-profile chief selector, the BCCI reached out to two former Indian cricket icons, both of whom represented the nation in over 100 Test matches.
However, both legendary cricketers declined the BCCI's offer to become India's next chief selector.
Serving as the Chairman of Selectors for Indian cricket brings immense public scrutiny, grueling year-round travel commitments across domestic and international venues, and strict conflict-of-interest regulations that force individuals to relinquish lucrative media and franchise coaching gigs. Even with a enhanced salary package, the demanding nature of the job and potential loss of media autonomy led these veteran players to pass on the opportunity for now.
With top candidates turning down initial offers and potential applicants like Parthiv Patel deciding against entering the race, the BCCI faces a strategic fork in the road.
One option is extending the application deadline or actively persuading a high-caliber candidate with an unmatched compensation package. The alternative is maintaining the status quo under Pragyan Ojha's interim leadership while leaning more heavily on VVS Laxman's guidance. As BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed, Laxman will actively participate in selection meetings going forward, providing technical depth, developmental continuity, and strategic direction to the panel.
How was Ajit Agarkar's regime?
Agarkar’s tenure as India’s chief selector (July 2023 to October 2026) was full of glory, bold calls and heartbreaks.
ICC Trophies and Major Tournament Dominance
Under Agarkar’s watch, the Indian men's team conquered the global stage, capturing three major ICC trophies:
2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Won undefeated in the West Indies and USA, ending India’s long-standing ICC title drought.
2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy: Masterminded a brilliant campaign to claim the prestigious ODI silverware.
2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Defended the crown successfully on home soil.
In addition to global crowns, India secured two Asia Cup titles (the 2023 ODI edition and the 2025 T20 edition) and back-to-back Gold medals at the Asian Games (2023 and 2026). The only major blemish on an otherwise stellar resume was the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where an otherwise flawless Indian side went down to Australia in Ahmedabad after winning 10 matches on the trot.
Bold decisions
Agarkar’s tenure will be remembered for decisive, often uncompromising leadership calls:
The Domestic Cricket Mandate: In a landmark ruling, Agarkar and the BCCI enforced a strict rule making domestic cricket participation mandatory for centrally contracted players, prioritizing red-ball commitment over casual exemptions.
And the lows:
Despite scaling unmatched global heights with a trio of ICC crowns in a 24-month span, the regime wasn't without its stumbles. The white-ball setup suffered a rare speed bump in 2024, dropping a 1-2 ODI series decision to Sri Lanka under Rohit Sharma's captaincy. However, the deepest struggles surfaced in the longest format: the Test team endured an unprecedented 0-3 home sweep against New Zealand late in 2024, before enduring a grueling 1-4 series defeat Down Under in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.