Former India pacer Rudra Pratap Singh (RP Singh) and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha are in line to join the senior national selection committee, following the exit of S Sharath and Subroto Banerjee from the Ajit Agarkar-led panel. The move is expected to bring fresh insights, blending international exposure with strong domestic cricketing backgrounds.
RP Singh, who played a vital role in India’s historic 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, enjoyed a successful domestic career with Uttar Pradesh and later guided Gujarat to their maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2016-17. Pragyan Ojha, meanwhile, was a consistent performer in Test cricket, claiming over 100 wickets in the format and ending with 144 international scalps.
Representing Hyderabad and later featuring for Bengal and Bihar, Ojha is tipped to represent the Southern Zone in the new committee. Sharath, who steps down from the senior panel, is expected to take charge of the junior selection panel, replacing Tilak Naidu.
ALSO READ: Lalchand Rajput Confident as UAE Eye Upset Against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025
According to a BCCI source, the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC)—comprising Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshna Naik—has invited RP Singh and Ojha to apply formally, with interviews scheduled before final approval. The appointments could be confirmed ahead of the BCCI’s AGM next month.
RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha are set to join BCCI’s national selector panel, replacing Subroto Banerjee and S Sharath. Their experience is expected to bring fresh insight to Indian cricket selection.#RPSingh #PragyanOjha #BCCI #TeamIndia #Crickethttps://t.co/kWdY9NYgX9
— Republic (@republic) September 17, 2025
“RP and Pragyan are two players who have been asked to apply, and the CAC is likely to clear their names,” the source told PTI.
At 39, RP Singh boasts an impressive record of 124 wickets across 14 Tests, 58 ODIs, and 10 T20Is. His career highlights include being Dhoni’s go-to bowler during the 2007 T20 World Cup and his impactful performances in England during India’s Test tour. Ojha, remembered for his match-winning 10-wicket haul in Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test, remains one of India’s most reliable red-ball bowlers of his era.
ALSO READ: Varun Chakravarthy Becomes ICC’s Top-Ranked T20I Bowler After Stunning Rise in Rankings
Several other former cricketers—such as Praveen Kumar, Ashish Winston Zaidi, and Shakti Singh—are also understood to have applied for the positions. The BCCI maintains strict eligibility criteria for selectors, including sufficient international or first-class experience, a minimum retirement period, and rotation norms to avoid repeat tenures.
The induction of RP Singh and Ojha is expected to strengthen India’s senior selection panel, adding valuable expertise at a crucial stage in Indian cricket.
