5 prominent Test cricketers who went on to become chief selectors 

The chief selector of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the backbone of the Indian Cricket Team. The 15 member squad, ahead of any tournament, is selected by the chief selector and his committee.

The current selection committee is headed by MSK Prasad, and consists of Gagan Khoda, Sarandeep Singh, Jatin Paranjpe and Devang Gandhi. The committee together select the team for all international matches – Tests, ODIs, and T20s. They also select the India ‘A’ teams for both the home and away series.

While a wealth of international experience might not have much to do with selection of the chief selector, it is important that the selector possesses the required stature to form a team. And in that case, experience of playing international cricket can be of use. Let’s take a look at 5 prominent Test cricketers who went on to become chief selectors.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth

During BCCI's 79th Annual General Meeting in September 2008, former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth replaced Dilip Vengsarkar to become the chief selector of the national team, a post he held till 2012.

Among others in his panel were Raja Venkat (East Zone), Narendra Hirwani (Central Zone), Surendra Bhave (West Zone), and Yashpal Sharma (North Zone). Srikkanth’s group enjoys the distinction of being the first ever paid selection panel.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer featured in 43 Tests and 146 ODIs for India from 1981 to 1992. His style of batting was thoroughly entertaining. In 72 Test innings, he accumulated 2062 runs.

Post retirement, he worked as the coach of the India 'A' team, as a TV broadcaster and commentator, as the ambassador for the Chennai Super Kings. He has also served as an ambassador to the Sunrisers Hyderabad - both in the Indian Premier League.

Sandip Patil

Patil coached the Kenyan cricket team to the semi-finals of the 2003 ICC World Cup

Former Indian cricketer Sandeep Patil was appointed the Chairman of the national selection committee in September 2012 after Srikkanth’s term ended. The others in his selection panel included Roger Binny (South Zone), Saba Karim (East Zone), Vikram Rathore (North Zone), and Rajinder Singh Hans (Central zone).

At his peak, Patil was a destructive batsman who played 29 Tests and 45 ODIs for India, scoring 1588 and 1005 runs respectively. After bidding goodbye to cricket from all formats, he was selected as the coach of India and then India A.

Later, he also worked as the coach of the Kenyan national team and memorably guided them to the semi-finals of the 2003 ICC World Cup. The 60-year-old had also applied for the post of India’s head coach last year, but lost out to Anil Kumble.

Kiran More

More was renowned for his work with the gloves

Former Test glovesman Kiran More was appointed as the chief selector in 2004. He replaced Syed Kirmani after the former India and Karnataka batsman’s 3-year-contract ended. One of the best decisions of More the chief selector was the inclusion of MS Dhoni in the India A squad for Kenya in 2003-04, after which the former skipper was given a national call-up in the same year for the ODI series against Bangladesh.

During More’s term as the chief selector from 2004 to 2006, he vowed to replace old and out of form players with young talent.

In 2008, he also worked as an executive director at the ICL. His international career spanned from 1984 to 1993, during which he played 64 test innings and scored 1285 runs. In ODIs, the 54-year-old scored 563 runs from 65 innings.

At present, More runs his own cricket academy at his home town, Baroda.

Ajit Wadekar

Wadekar in the early 1970s

Ajit Wadekar became the chief selector in 1996, when both Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly made their Test debut in England.

In the 1990s, he was also the manager of the Indian team. Wadekar is one of the very few cricketers to have represented India as a player, captain, coach, manager and chief selector.

In 1971, Wadekar led India to historic wins in England and West Indies. He was also one of the best slip fielders, along with being a mainstay at No. 3. The 76-year-old left hand batsman played 71 Test innings and scored 2113 runs. In ODIs, he has 73 runs from two innings.

As a coach, he was very successful. He forged a good relationship with captain Mohammad Azharuddin, and during his tenure as from 1992-96, India dominated at home. They remained unbeaten in 14 Tests at home, and also whitewash of England 3-0.

Lala Amarnath

Amarnath took 45 wickets in 24 Tests

Amarnath was the chief selector in 1959, when Australia visited India and upstaged the hosts by an innings and 127 runs at the captain.

However, for the second Test at Kanpur, Amarnath selected a relatively unknown Jasu Patel, and the bowler repaid the trust by taking 14 wickets. India won by 119 runs.

The former Indian skipper also holds a unique distinction; that of being the only bowler in the world to get Sir Donald Bradman dismissed on hit wicket. He also captained India in 1974.

Amarnath was also the first Indian cricketer to score a Test century. In 24 Test matches, he scored 878 runs at 24.38 and took 45 wickets at 32.91. The stats may not be ideal, but Amarnath was considered a father figure in Indian cricket.