Former Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas will run Indian cricket for the next three years after being elected unopposed as the 37th president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at Monday’s Annual General Meeting in Mumbai. The post had been vacant since August, when former all-rounder Roger Binny stepped aside for undisclosed personal reasons. Vice-president Rajeev Shukla filled in temporarily and now resumes his usual brief.
Key appointments
• Manhas, 45, becomes only the second J&K-born cricketer to lead the board.
• Former India and Karnataka left-arm spinner Raghuram Bhat steps in as treasurer.
• Devajit Saikia (secretary), Shukla (vice-president) and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia (joint secretary) all keep or shift roles, providing continuity in day-to-day administration.
“It’s an absolute honour to be the president of the world’s finest cricketing board,” Manhas said, standing alongside new and returning officials. “At the same time it’s a huge responsibility and I give my assurance that I’ll be committed to do it to the best of my abilities and dedication and passion.”
Asked why he believed the state associations rallied behind him, Manhas replied: “Maybe my work, my credentials as a cricketer, as an administrator. For the past four years I’ve been at the J&K Cricket Association.”
Playing and coaching pedigree
Manhas enjoyed a two-decade domestic career, racking up 9,714 first-class runs for Delhi and, later, Jammu & Kashmir. He also logged more than 5,000 runs in white-ball cricket and appeared for three IPL franchises. Since retirement he has turned to coaching, most recently acting as batting consultant with Bangladesh Under-19s and assisting Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.
Selection shake-up
Elsewhere, the senior men’s selection panel has two fresh faces. Former India bowlers Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh replace Subroto Banerjee, whose term expired, and S Sharath, who moves to chair the junior panel. The revamped committee remains led by Ajit Agarkar, with Ajay Ratra and SS Das continuing until October 2026.
Ojha, speaking briefly outside the AGM, said he was “looking forward to broad, healthy debates,” stressing that state performances would remain “the primary yardstick.” Though early days, the inclusion of two ex-left-armers gives the committee a noticeably bowling-heavy tilt—no bad thing after India’s pace stocks were stretched last season.
Governance notes
• Former Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah joins the BCCI Apex Council, replacing Khairul Jamal Majumdar, now part of the IPL Governing Council under chair Arun Dhumal.
• Amita Sharma takes over from Neetu David as chair of the senior women’s selection committee, joined by newcomers Shyama Dey, Jaya Sharma and Sravanthi Naidu; Sulakshana Naik is retained for continuity.
Early priorities
Manhas inherits a relatively settled board, yet unresolved matters await. Media-rights negotiations for bilateral matches, upgrades to several Test venues and a domestic calendar compressed by an ICC events cycle will test the new president’s ability to balance ambition with player welfare. An insider summed it up: “He’ll need those long stints in the Delhi middle order to have taught him patience.”
For now, the former right-hander — who once out-scored the more heralded Virender Sehwag in a Ranji season — wants to listen first. “Good governance isn’t a solo drive,” he told regional reporters. “You need the whole dressing-room pulling together.”
Balanced outlook
Observers see his appointment as a nod to the growing influence of smaller associations. Jammu & Kashmir’s recent first-class improvements, plus Manhas’s behind-the-scenes work in age-group cricket, convinced many that he has both grassroots empathy and metropolitan experience.
Still, administrators caution that a cordial election is only the beginning. A senior official noted bluntly: “Consensus in the AGM is easier than consensus when money and schedules are on the table.” Manhas, used to grinding out runs on slow Kotla pitches, knows a long innings lies ahead.
