The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed former India fast bowler Parvinder Awana as the chairperson of its Junior Selection Committee. The announcement was made on Friday, October 23, following a recommendation from the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising Ashok Malhotra and Jatin Paranjape.
Awana was selected after an interview process conducted by the CAC. The junior selection panel will also include Krishna Das, Rakesh Patel and Arjun Yadav, while the appointment of a fifth member is expected shortly.
The committee will play an important role in identifying and selecting emerging talent for India’s junior teams, including supporting the development of players progressing towards the senior national setup.
Awana Brings Playing and Coaching Experience
Awana represented India in two T20 Internationals during his playing career. At the domestic level, he featured in 62 first-class matches and claimed 191 wickets, establishing himself as an experienced fast bowler.
He represented Delhi, India A and Rest of India, and also played in the Indian Premier League for Kings XI Punjab, now known as Punjab Kings.
Following his retirement from professional cricket, Awana moved into coaching. He has worked with Delhi’s Under-16, Under-19 and Under-23 teams, gaining experience in developing young cricketers across different age groups.
His coaching background also includes involvement with India Under-19 and several high-performance programmes run by the BCCI and its Centre of Excellence (COE). This experience is expected to be valuable in his new administrative role, particularly in evaluating young players and supporting the country’s talent identification system.
Krishna Das Adds Fast-Bowling Expertise
Krishna Das, another former fast bowler, has also been named to the committee. He represented Assam and Goa during his playing career, appearing in 49 first-class matches and taking 166 wickets.
Das also represented India Under-19 and India A, gaining exposure to the domestic and international development pathways.
After retiring, he continued his involvement in the game through coaching assignments. His previous roles include bowling coach of India Under-19 and bowling coach of the Uttarakhand Ranji Trophy team.
His experience across age-group and senior domestic cricket adds another coaching perspective to the junior selection panel.
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Rakesh Patel and Arjun Yadav Complete the Panel
Rakesh Patel has represented Gujarat and Baroda, along with India A. He also featured in major domestic competitions, including the Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and Irani Trophy.
Patel subsequently moved into coaching, working with Baroda and Gujarat teams at the Under-19, Under-23 and senior levels. He served as head coach of the Baroda Under-23 team during the 2025-26 season, giving him recent experience in preparing young players for competitive cricket.
Arjun Yadav brings a combination of playing, coaching and match-officiating experience. He represented India A and played 83 first-class matches during his career. Yadav was also part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2000.
After playing for Hyderabad, he transitioned into coaching, serving as head coach of the Hyderabad senior and Under-23 teams. Since 2022, he has also worked as a BCCI match referee.
Focus on Developing India’s Next Generation
With Awana leading the committee, the BCCI has brought together former players and coaches with experience across domestic cricket, age-group teams and high-performance programmes.
The panel’s responsibilities will centre on assessing young talent and making selection decisions for India’s junior teams. Its members’ backgrounds in coaching and player development could also help strengthen the pathway from age-group cricket to the senior level.
The BCCI is expected to appoint the fifth member shortly, completing the junior selection committee. The panel will then continue its work in identifying and nurturing the next generation of Indian cricketers.