The BCCI selectors have already shortlisted 20-odd players for the 2027 ODI World Cup, and they will be keeping a close watch on their performances in IPL 2026, according to a PTI report. The mega event might still be a year away, but a BCCI source informed PTI that the selectors have prepared a tentative list of players, and these selectors will attend the IPL matches in which these players will play. The IPL 2026 is all set to start on March 28, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru locking horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament opener. The BCCI source revealed that the selection panel, comprising SS Das, RP Singh, Ajay Ratra, and Pragyan Ojha, will travel to the venues and closely monitor the IPL matches.
"The BCCI expects each selector to watch at least one game per week in person, covering five games weekly from the venue. Otherwise, they can observe on TV," the official told PTI.
The report also stated that the selectors will not consider the LA Olympics or the 2028 T20 World Cup when evaluating players during the IPL. They will also disregard any breakout stars for the main event.
Since Harshit Rana requires time to recover from his knee injury, the four pacers likely to make the squad are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
The selectors would also make some changes to India's Test team for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, to be held in Mullanpur in June this year, since it is not part of the WTC cycle.
It should be noted that the Indian team will play nine Tests between August and March, during which all Test players, including the pacers, will be selected.
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Both Bumrah and Siraj, if one of them sustains a niggle in the IPL, will also be playing the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
"The India Test cap isn't for experimentation. For that, you have India A shadow tours. As of now, in Tests, Bumrah, Siraj, and Prasidh are the top three bowlers on the selectors' radar," the source concluded.
Agarkar hasn't asked for "extension"
The senior official also rejected speculation that Agarkar has sought an extension till the 50-over World Cup after a triumphant T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year.
"The selection panel is a sub-committee of the BCCI and the selectors' contract runs till September this year," a senior BCCI official privy to developments told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"Ajit's contract ends in September and after that BCCI secretary and Ajit will have to decide whether he would continue till next year's ODI World Cup. A senior selector can continue upto four years as per constitution and he doesn't need to seek an extension," he said.
Agarkar took over as chairman of selectors in July, 2023 and has been a central figure during the transitions endured by the Test and T20 squads following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from these two formats.
Focus on ODI hopefuls during IPL
While Agarkar is Mumbai-based, Das is a Kolkata resident. RP Singh and Ratra reside in the National Capital Region, and Ojha is expected to watch the his share of the IPL games in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
"The BCCI is looking at each selector watching at least one game per week which covers five games per week from the venue. Else obviously they can track on TV," the official said.
It is understood that with the 2028 T20 World Cup and, prior to that, the Olympics in the same year, this IPL will be more about tracking the performance of those 20-odd players who are going to be in the mix for the 50-over World Cup.
The selectors are not expected to look at any breakout IPL star for the ODI World Cup.
The core 50-over specialists are all known and their performance and fitness will be tracked during this year's IPL.
It is reliably learnt that pacer Harshit Rana will take considerable time to recover and the four other fast bowlers for ODIs will be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya.