In a conversation with Cheteshwar Pujara on his YouTube channel, Ajinkya Rahane emphasized the importance of having selectors who can guide players to perform with confidence and who understand the evolving demands of modern cricket.
Rahane believes that limiting selectors to those who retired within the last five to eight years would make the selection process more attuned to the needs of contemporary cricket, particularly at the domestic level.
‘Selectors Should Be Recently Retired Players’ – Ajinkya Rahane
Currently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allows retired cricketers with over 10 First-Class matches to become state association selectors after a five-year cooling-off period. The national selection committee, however, enforces stricter criteria, including its own mandatory cooling-off period.
“Players should not fear selectors. We should have selectors who retired recently from top-flight cricket—five or six years ago, or even seven or eight years ago. Cricket is evolving rapidly, and it’s crucial that the mindset of selectors keeps pace with these changes,” Ajinkya Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
He further emphasized the need for selectors to understand modern cricket: “The game has changed. Decisions should not be based on how cricket was played 20–30 years ago. With formats like T20 and tournaments like the IPL, it’s vital to grasp the style of contemporary players. I also believe selectors should represent all states, allowing players the freedom to play fearless cricket on the ground.”
Rahane highlighted the importance of having selectors with experience in the modern game, particularly in T20s and domestic cricket, citing examples like Ajit Agarkar and the recently appointed Pragyan
