The interview process for the fifth member of the Indian national team selection committee concluded on Thursday. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may make a decision regarding the appointment to this position soon.
During the interviews, candidates were asked important questions regarding Rohit Sharma's future in ODI format and the reasons why Vaibha Suryavanshi has not yet secured a spot in the T20I starting XI. According to 'Hindustan Times', former Indian cricketers Ramesh Powar and Salim Ankala are competing for this position, while Vasim Zafar also applied.
Ramesh Powar played in 2 Test matches and 31 ODI matches, whereas Salim Ankala has statistics of 1 Test and 20 ODI matches. The CAC includes former Indian cricketers Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape, who questioned the candidates about Rohit's continued participation in ODIs.
Rohit Sharma's chances of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup became one of the central topics of discussion. Concerns were raised about Rohit's ability to play in the next World Cup, which led to disagreements between him and Ajit Agarkar. Despite impressive statistics, Agarkar did not receive an extension of his tenure.
Under his leadership, India won three ICC trophies in limited-overs formats: T20 World Cup 2024, Champions Trophy 2025, and T20 World Cup 2026. Furthermore, on Friday, selectors did not include Yashvi Siswalia in the second stage of the ODI series against New Zealand, while Shubman Gill will be unavailable. This will give Siswalia an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Test series. According to the report, this decision is also seen as a sign of the selectors' changing views on Rohit in light of the upcoming World Cup.
The issue of Vaibha Suryavanshi was also raised during the interview. Candidates were asked to express their opinion on why, despite his talent and consistent presence in the team, he has been unable to secure a place in the Indian T20 starting XI. The interviewers wanted to understand what approach the new selectors would take towards selecting Vaibha.
Candidates were presented with a hypothetical situation: what they would propose as an alternative captain if Shubman Gill were injured and dropped from the team. The online interview process was detailed, but the final decision on the chief selector will depend on BCCI preferences. According to the BCCI constitution, the player with the most Test matches among the five elected members becomes the chairman of the selection committee.
Following Agarkar's departure, Pradhan Ojha is acting as the chief selector, with experience playing in 24 Test matches and one year working with Agarkar. Given the need to maintain continuity in preparation for next year's ODI World Cup and in the selection process, there is a possibility that Ojha will become the full-fledged chief selector. Among the selected candidates, Wasim Zafar has the most experience, having played 31 Tests. However, according to the report, since the BCCI supports the continuity of the selection process, the probability of Zafar being chosen is considered low. Jacob Martin from the Baroda Cricket Association and Conor Williams were also interviewed; Martin played 10 ODI matches, and Williams participated in an unofficial Test match against South Africa.
BCCI announced the recruitment of candidates for the position of member of the men's Indian national team selection committee. Candidates were required to meet criteria regarding experience in Tests, First Class, or ODIs, as well as conditions related to career completion. The application deadline was set for October 14, 2026, at 17:00.