Inside the Indian Cricket Team Selection Process
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the apex body that controls and improves the quality and standard of cricket in the nation, was originally founded in December 1928 and later re-registered in 1975 under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. It is the richest board in cricket after Cricket Australia (CA). The BCCI is an autonomous and private organization. It neither belongs to the National Sports Federation of India nor receives any grants from the government. Tournaments like the Indian Premier League, BCCI Corporate Award, Deodhar Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Ranji Trophy, and Irani Trophy are organized by the BCCI.
The BCCI is responsible for the Indian cricket team selection process that represents India in all formats for both men and women.
Members of BCCI-
Sr. No. | Posts | Name |
1. | Secretary | Jay Shah |
2. | President | Roger Binny |
3. | Vice President | Rajeev Shukla |
4. | CEO | Hemang Amin |
5. | Treasurer | Ashish Shelar |
Cricket Committees in BCCI-
- Men’s Selection Committee
- The junior cricket committee
- The women’s selection committee
- The Women’s cricket committee
- Zonal Selection Committee
- Differently abled cricket committee
- The cricket talent committee
These committees are comprising of former players. They are responsible for the Indian cricket team selection process, coaching, and evaluation of team performance.
Indian Cricket Team Selection Process
The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) is a three-member committee, consisting of former reputed Indian players who appoint the Men’s selection committee member. The current members of CAC are Jatin Paranjape, Ashok Malhotra, and Sulakshana Naik.
The selection committee consists of five members who are responsible for selecting of Senior National cricket team to represent Test, One Day Internationals (ODIs), Twenty20, and another format. Additionally, The Captain, Head coach, batting coach, fielding coach, and bowling coach are invited to the selection committee meeting to give their opinions and vision of the team regarding player selection.
The Selection Committee very carefully and closely observed player’s performance, temperament, consistency, attitude , and mental and physical performance. They analyse these aspects by closely watching various visual data of their recently played matches.
Key Accountabilities of selection committee:
- Select the best possible team in a fair and transparent manner.
- Plan and prepare a strong bench strength for the Senior National team.
- Attend Team meetings as and when required.
- Travel to watch Domestic and International matches.
- Prepare and provide evaluation reports of the respective team performances to the Apex Council of BCCI on a quarterly basis.
- Address the media on team selection as and when instructed by BCCI.
- Appoint Captain for the team in each format.
- Adhere to the rules and regulation of BCCI.
Current members of committee
- Present Senior National Selection Committee
- Ajit Agarkar (chairman) who was a fast bowling all-rounder
- Shiv Sunder Das who was an opening batsman
- Subroto Banerjee who was a pacer
- Salil Ankola who was a pacer
- Sridharan Sarath[6] who was a batsman
Selecting Fresh Young Talent
The BCCI uses a thorough method to find new talent. They closely monitor the new talent’s batting average, bowling economy rate, fielding skills, and ability to perform under pressure. Consistency, adaptability, and the ability to deliver match-winning performances are crucial.
Cricket demands both physical and mental strength. The BCCI acknowledges the importance of evaluating a player’s temperament and character on the field and also places immense importance on qualities such as integrity, consistent performance, positive attitude, discipline, stats and records, as these attributes greatly enhance a player’s suitability for representing the nation. Player’s on field behaviour and how well they handle pressure situations is closely monitored by them.
New Rules for Selection:
In a review meeting held on January 1, 2023, just before the World Cup hosted in India, the BCCI reintroduced the YOYO fitness test rule and introduced a new criterion called DEXA in Indian cricket team selection process.
YOYO is a fitness test to measure the aerobic, stamina of players and their high-intensity physical activity throughout a match. In this test, players sprint between markers set 20 meters apart, gradually increasing their speed within shorter time intervals. The test keeps getting harder with each passing level. When a player misses two beeps, the test ends. The parameter for selection in the Indian team is a 16.1 score on the Yo-Yo test.
The Dexa Test (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is an imaging test. This is a test to measure bone density, muscle mass, water content, and fat percentage by passing high and low X-ray beams through bones.
- a) Played 7 Test Matches; OR
- b) 30 First Class Matches; OR
- c) 10 One Day International Matches and 20 First Class matches.
- Every Member of the Committee should have retired from the game at least 5 years before.
- Any person who has served on any Cricket Committee, as outlined in the BCCI’s Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations. for a total of 5 years shall not be eligible to be a member of the Men’s selection committee.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a minimum age policy. A player must have a minimum age of 15. In case of exception, a Member Board could apply to the ICC to allow a player under 15 to play international cricket for their respective countries.
R. E. Grant Govan was the first BCCI president.
Anthony de Mello was the first secretary.
The emerging players will have to play a considerable domestic season to be eligible for selection to the national cricket team. They also have to pass fitness tests like the yoyo test and the Dexa test in Indian cricket team selection process.
BCCI governs men’s India cricket team, Women’s national team, India men’s U19and women’s U19. It also governs second-tier or junior teams: India A, India B (men’s), India A Women’s.
Player get a salary according to their matches-
- Less than 21 match 40000 Rs salary
- 21-40 match -5000
- 40+ match 60000
