"Players Should Not Be Scared of Selectors": Ajinkya Rahane Calls for Major Overhaul in BCCI Selection Committee

Former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has made a bold call for radical changes in how cricket selectors are appointed in India, particularly at the domestic level. In a candid conversation with recently retired teammate Cheteshwar Pujara on his YouTube channel, Rahane advocated for only recently retired first-class players to serve as selectors, arguing they would be better equipped to understand modern cricket's evolving demands and help players perform without fear.

The Current Selection System

Under existing BCCI regulations, any cricketer with just 10 first-class matches can apply to become a state selector, provided they retired at least five years ago. For the national selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, the requirements are even stricter with mandatory cooling-off periods. However, Rahane believes this system is outdated and fails to keep pace with how cricket has transformed, especially with the advent of T20 leagues and the IPL.

Rahane's Radical Proposal

The 37-year-old veteran, who played 103 Tests for India, didn't mince words when outlining his vision for selection reform:

"Players should not be scared of selectors. I want to talk about selectors, especially in domestic cricket. We should have selectors who have retired recently from playing top-flight cricket, those who have retired five-six years, seven-eight years ago."

This statement alone raised eyebrows across Indian cricket, suggesting an uncomfortable truth—that players currently harbor fears about selectors and their decision-making processes. Rahane's candid admission hints at deeper issues within the player-selector relationship that have perhaps remained unspoken for too long.

He elaborated on why recently retired players would make better selectors:

"Because the way cricket is evolving, I think it's very important that the mentality and mindset of the selectors match that and keep pace with the change. The game is evolving. We don't want to make decisions based on how cricket was played 20-30 years ago. With formats like T20 and the IPL, it's important to understand the style of modern players."

Understanding Modern Cricket's Demands

Rahane's core argument centers on cricket's rapid evolution since the IPL's inception in 2008. The game has transformed dramatically—strike rates matter more than ever, boundary-hitting ability has become paramount, and players are expected to excel across multiple formats with drastically different skill requirements.

Selectors who retired 15-20 years ago, Rahane argues, may struggle to evaluate players through this contemporary lens. They might judge a batter's technique based on traditional parameters rather than understanding how IPL cricket demands different shot-making abilities. Similarly, they might not fully appreciate how modern fast bowlers need to master yorkers, slower balls, and death-over variations alongside traditional Test match skills.

"I believe selectors should, wherever possible, be individuals from all states, so that players should be on the ground playing with freedom, playing fearless cricket."

This final point reveals Rahane's ultimate goal—creating an environment where cricketers can express themselves without the psychological burden of pleasing selectors who may not understand their approach.

Pujara's Balanced Counterpoint

Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced his retirement from all cricket in August 2025 after being excluded from the England series squad, offered a more nuanced perspective. Under current rules, Pujara would need to wait until 2030 before becoming eligible for a selector's position—a reality that perhaps informed his more cautious stance.

"In big states this can be implemented because they have so many options. So, wherever possible, I do agree that it can be implemented, but that doesn't mean that any past cricketer, who has got a great record and wants to be a selector now, should be deprived of the chance because he retired long back."

Pujara's point highlights a practical concern: implementing Rahane's proposal universally might exclude highly qualified candidates whose only "flaw" is having retired too long ago. In smaller states with fewer former first-class cricketers, such restrictions could limit the talent pool for selection committees.

The doughty former number three also acknowledged the value of experience that comes with time away from the playing field, suggesting that longer-retired players bring perspective and wisdom that recently retired cricketers might lack.

Domestic Cricket's Importance

Both batsmen strongly agreed on one fundamental principle: domestic cricket performance must form the foundation of Test team selection. This represents a pushback against recent trends where white-ball success or IPL performances sometimes overshadow red-ball credentials.

"I strongly believe that those who want to play Test cricket, should play domestic cricket first. And everyone plays it. And it is also important to perform well in it," Pujara stated.

He praised recent selection trends under Agarkar's committee:

"If we talk about the current team selection, or if we talk about the last 2-3 series, the domestic players who have performed well in Ranji Trophy or domestic cricket, they have got an opportunity to play in the Indian squad. So, what it suggests is that it is a positive move. Because when domestic players perform well in domestic cricket, they should get a reward."

Rahane echoed this sentiment:

"The selection of the Indian Test team should be based on domestic cricket. And I think this value remains. When you come to Test cricket after performing so well in domestic cricket, the value of the Test cap and the experience of playing Test cricket is also different."

Addressing Misconceptions About Domestic Cricket

Pujara took issue with perceptions that modern players avoid domestic cricket, arguing instead that priorities have shifted:

"Domestic cricket remains important even now but players' priorities have changed a bit. There are specialised players now for each format not just in India but across the world. Since the number of Test matches a year has come down a bit over the years, players now feel that if they are not part of white-ball cricket they are missing out on a lot of action."

This observation reflects cricket's commercial realities. With the IPL offering lucrative contracts and international T20 leagues providing year-round opportunities, players naturally gravitate toward formats that maximize their earning potential and visibility.

However, Pujara insisted: "So, priorities have shifted now, but that does not mean these players don't want to play domestic cricket."

Infrastructure and Quality Improvements

Both veterans acknowledged significant improvements in Indian domestic cricket's infrastructure since their early playing days:

"Domestic cricket has changed a lot now from the time we started playing. First of all, the infrastructure where matches are taking place now, the grounds and facilities have improved compared to what we used to get in the past," Pujara observed.

He credited the IPL's 2008 launch as a watershed moment:

"From 2008, when the IPL started, Indian cricket has undergone a massive change. So, that had some impact on domestic cricket too."

Better stadiums, improved training facilities, enhanced medical support, and professional coaching have elevated domestic cricket's standards. Rahane and Pujara both played in an era that spanned this transformation, giving them unique perspective on how much has changed.

Potential Implementation Challenges

While Rahane's proposal sounds attractive in theory, practical challenges exist:

Limited Candidate Pool: Reducing the retirement period from five years to even shorter might significantly limit available candidates, especially in smaller cricketing states.

Experience vs. Currency: There's value in the wisdom that comes from time away from playing. Selectors with 10-15 years of distance from active cricket may offer perspective that recently retired players lack.

Conflicts of Interest: Recently retired players might have personal relationships with current players that could compromise objective decision-making.

Continuity: If selectors rotate too frequently based on recent retirements, it could lead to inconsistent selection philosophies and lack of long-term planning.