In a significant development for Indian cricket, Mithun Manhas has been elected as the new President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was made at the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Mumbai on Sunday. Manhas, a former Delhi captain, takes over the reins from Roger Binny, who stepped down last month after turning 70.
Rajeev Shukla will continue to serve as the Vice President of the BCCI. Shukla's confirmation in his role ensures continuity in the leadership structure of the board. Union Minister Jitendra Singh has lauded the appointments, highlighting Manhas's roots in Jammu & Kashmir.
Mithun Manhas, aged 45, had a long and distinguished domestic career, playing 157 First-Class, 130 List A, and 91 T20 matches from 1997-98 to 2016-17. After his retirement, he has been actively involved in cricket administration and coaching. He has served as the Director of Cricket for the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and has also held coaching positions with IPL teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans. Additionally, he has worked as a batting consultant with the Bangladesh Under-19 team. Manhas was part of the BCCI-appointed sub-committee that oversees the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association.
Rajeev Shukla, a seasoned politician and cricket administrator, has been a key figure in Indian cricket for many years. He was the Chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has also served as the Vice President of the BCCI since 2020. Shukla's experience and understanding of the game will be invaluable in his role as Vice President.
Other key appointments were also made at the AGM. Devajit Saikia was elected as the Honorary Secretary, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia as the Joint Secretary, and A Raghuram Bhat as the Treasurer. Arun Singh Dhumal will continue as the IPL Governing Council Chairman. Jaydev Niranjan Shah was appointed as the sole member of the Apex Council, and Khairul Jamal Majumdar was added to the Governing Council. Former India cricketers RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha have been included in the men's selection committee. Amita Sharma was confirmed as the chairperson of the women's selection panel, replacing Neetu David. She will be joined by Jaya Sharma, Shyama Dey, and Sravanthi Naidu, and they will begin their stint after the Women's World Cup.
Manhas is the 37th BCCI president and the third consecutive former cricketer to hold the position, following Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny. His election signals a continued emphasis on bringing cricketing expertise to the forefront of Indian cricket administration. According to Rajeev Shukla, the decision to appoint Manhas, a former player, as president was made to ensure that the BCCI is led by someone with a deep understanding of the game.
