BCCI Shakeup at AGM: Key Appointments Shape Team India’s Future
The BCCI AGM brought a significant change in how India’s national teams are selected. Former players Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh have been inducted into the senior men’s selection panel, while Amita Sharma takes over as the head of the women’s selection committee. At the same time, Mithun Manhas was elected as the new BCCI president, marking a new era for Indian cricket administration.
New Members on the Men’s Senior Selection Panel
Pragyan Ojha, the former left-arm spinner, and RP Singh, a fast bowler who represented India across formats, are the latest additions to the men’s senior selection panel. Their appointment signals a push to bring in fresh cricketing insights with a wealth of international and domestic experience. Ojha’s career highlights include 24 Tests, 18 ODIs, and 6 T20Is, while RP Singh played 14 Tests, 58 ODIs, and 10 T20Is. Both bring a practical understanding of the modern game and a perspective rooted in India’s diverse domestic structure.
Alongside these two new selectors, the panel’s leadership remains with the chairman, who now oversees a refreshed lineup of advisors. The goal is to balance the experience of former greats with the evolving demands of the current Team India setup, ensuring that selection decisions reflect both talent and the strategic needs of all three formats.
Amita Sharma Leads the Women’s Selection Committee
In women’s cricket administration, Amita Sharma has been appointed as the head of the women’s selection committee. She is joined by a quartet of members—Sulakshana Naik, Shravanthi Naidu, Shyama De, and Jaya Sharma—forming a panel aimed at strengthening India’s women’s game across formats. Sharma’s leadership comes at a time when Indian women’s cricket is enjoying growing visibility and results on the global stage.
Junior Selection Panel: S. Sharat Named Chair
The AGM also confirmed S. Sharat as the chair of the junior selection committee, ensuring a structured, youth-focused pipeline for the future. This aligns with the broader BCCI strategy to nurture homegrown talent from a young age and provide clear pathways to the senior teams.
Rule Change: Under-16 Players Cannot Feature in IPL Before Ranji
A landmark decision from the AGM is the new rule barring Under-16 players from participating in the IPL unless they have appeared in at least one Ranji Trophy match for their state. The rule underscores a philosophy that early exposure to the high-pressure, first-class arena will help young talents mature more effectively. Proponents argue this will sharpen technical skills and temperament, reducing the risk of early, one-dimensional success in the shortest format.
A New Era for BCCI Leadership
With Mithun Manhas elected as president for a three-year term, BCCI enters a phase of potential recalibration in both governance and cricketing strategy. Manhas, a former international player with a deep understanding of India’s domestic circuit, will work alongside Devjit Saikia (secretary) and Rajiv Shukla (vice president) to implement the association’s vision. This leadership trio faces the challenge of balancing competitive excellence with the ongoing development of India’s cricketing infrastructure.
Profiles: Ojha and RP Singh — From Players to Selection Voices
Pragyan Ojha’s international journey spanned multiple roles: an effective left-arm spinner with 424 wickets across first-class cricket, and experience in limited-overs formats. RP Singh, renowned for his pace and vital contributions in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad, added 94 first-class matches and 136 List A games to his resume. In their new roles, both bring a players’-eye view to selection, emphasizing ability, adaptability, and the need to prepare Team India for all conditions and competitions.
What This Means for Team India
The combination of a refreshed men’s selection panel, a strong women’s leadership, and a forward-looking junior setup aims to create a more cohesive and resilient national team framework. With the Under-16 IPL rule encouraging Ranji exposure, the pipeline should produce crisper, more battle-ready players ready to perform on the world stage. As Mithun Manhas leads the board, stakeholders will watch closely how the new dynamics translate into results across formats in the coming seasons.
