The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made an announcement appointing a new selector for the senior Indian men's cricket team. The new selector will be joining the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. Even though the official confirmation has been made by the apex cricket governing body of India, the new member will be taking charge on September 5 (Thursday). The decision has been taken ahead of Duleep Trophy 2024.
The new selector of the senior Indian men's cricket team happens to be Ajay Ratra. The veteran that Ratra has replaced is ex-India and Mumbai cricketer Salil Ankola. In its official statement, BCCI described Ratra's domestic and international track record as "impressive."
"Ratra has an extensive coaching experience having worked as a Head Coach of Assam, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. He was also a part of the coaching staff of the Indian team during their ODI series in South Africa in 2023," an official release by the BCCI read.
"His insights will be instrumental to the committee in ensuring that the best talent is identified, nurtured, and given the opportunity to excel at the highest level," it added.
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Ajay Ratra's Cricket Career In Numbers
The Haryana wicketkeeper-batter played 6 Tests, 12 ODIs and 99 First Class-matches in the course of his career, scoring 163, 90 and 4029 runs in them respectively. Batra featured in 89 List A games, accumulating 1381 runs. In 17 T20s, the right-handed Faridabad-born cricketer scored 190 runs. Ratra has a Test hundred to his name, a knock of 115 in testing conditions in Antigua, a feat he achieved at the age of 20