Five candidates interviewed for selector’s position

Five former cricketers have been interviewed for the vacant position on the senior men’s selection committee, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) looking to fill the spot left by Ajit Agarkar, who opted against seeking a renewal of his contract that expired on October 4.

The Hindu understands that the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, interviewed the Mumbai trio of Wasim Jaffer, Ramesh Powar and Salil Ankola, along with Baroda’s Jacob Martin and Connor Williams, on Thursday (October 15, 2026).

Barring Williams, whose purported Test appearance in South Africa was later deemed to be an abandoned match, the other four candidates have represented India in Tests. Ankola, in particular, brings selection committee experience, having been part of Agarkar’s panel that picked India’s triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup squad. After a two-year hiatus, he is seeking a return to the five-member panel.

Jaffer, the highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy history, is the most decorated candidate in terms of Test appearances, with 31 Test caps. Should he get the nod, he would automatically become chairman of the selection committee, with BCCI rules stipulating that the member with the most Test appearances heads the panel.

Powar, however, is understood to be the front-runner for the position. The former Mumbai off-spinner, who has coached Gujarat in domestic cricket for the last three seasons, was initially approached to apply for the junior selection committee vacancy before being directed to throw his hat into the ring for the senior role.