For the third consecutive term since 2019, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will witness an unopposed election of its office-bearers, with former Jammu & Kashmir cricketer Mithun Manhas emerging as the new president-designate.
The nominations filed on Sunday afternoon set the stage for a smooth transition. Soon after, the incoming leadership group flew to Ahmedabad, now seen as the informal headquarters of Indian cricket, for an informal meeting hosted by ICC chairman and former BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
Manhas’ Surprise Rise
The choice of Manhas, 45, has drawn attention as his selection appeared sudden and unexpected. According to insiders, BCCI members had agreed that the next president should be a former cricketer. Among the limited pool available at the AGM—Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Raghuram Bhat, Jaydev Shah, and Manhas—only the last two were considered viable.
Ganguly and Harbhajan were ruled out due to commercial and commentary contracts.
Bhat, though experienced, was overlooked because he hails from Karnataka, the same state as outgoing president Roger Binny.
That narrowed the contest to Manhas and Jaydev Shah.
Ultimately, Manhas was chosen, with senior leader Rajeev Shukla citing both his cricketing background and the desire to give Jammu & Kashmir representation in the board.
Behind-the-Scenes Unity
Multiple accounts suggest the decision was more about consensus than competition. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Jay Shah are believed to have played pivotal roles in forging this unity among the BCCI’s power brokers.
This rare alignment ensured that all top positions were filled without contest, marking another chapter of consolidation within the world’s richest cricket board.
Winners and Losers
While Manhas and Raghuram Bhat emerged as the biggest gainers, others lost out in the reshuffle.
Rohan Gauns Dessai, outgoing joint secretary, was sidelined after his panel’s defeat in the Goa Cricket Association polls.
Avishek Dalmiya, once a member of the IPL Governing Council, was dropped in favour of Mamon Majumdar of Mizoram, representing the North-East.
Delhi’s Rohan Jaitley, son of former BCCI strongman Arun Jaitley, was told his turn would come later.
The selections also reflected the unwritten rule of regional balance in distributing BCCI posts.
New Power Structure
The incoming administration looks like this:
President: Mithun Manhas (J&K)
Vice-president: Rajeev Shukla (UP)
Secretary: Devajit Saikia (Assam)
Joint secretary: Prabhtej Singh Bhatia (Chhattisgarh)
Treasurer: Raghuram Bhat (Karnataka)
IPL Chairman: Arun Singh Dhumal (Himachal Pradesh)
IPL GC Member: Mamon Majumdar (Mizoram)
Apex Council Member: Jaydev Shah (Saurashtra)
The Road Ahead
With the AGM in Mumbai expected to ratify these names unopposed, the BCCI is set to enter a new phase under Manhas. His elevation also underscores the growing influence of Jay Shah, who continues to command broad support even while holding the ICC chair.
For now, Indian cricket’s corridors of power remain tightly knit and aligned, with little space for dissent—an unusual but defining feature of this reshuffle.
