Speculation Grows as BCCI Presidency Race Heats Up

Speculation Grows as BCCI Presidency Race Heats Up

with speculation over who will become the next president of the BoaWith less than a week to go before the nomination deadline (September 20–21), the cricketing fraternity is abuzzrd of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The election is scheduled for September 28 during the board’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Political Backing Likely to Influence Outcome

Insiders suggest that consultations with the BJP-led central government will soon begin, given the party’s significant influence on BCCI appointments in recent years. The trend of backing former international cricketers is expected to continue. In 2019, Sourav Ganguly was chosen, followed by Roger Binny in 2022 — both former India players with strong public appeal.

Former Internationals in the Mix

According to the official list of state association representatives eligible to attend the AGM, three former India internationals stand out:

  • Sourav Ganguly (representing Bengal)

  • Harbhajan Singh (Punjab)

  • Raghuram Bhatt (Karnataka)

Though Ganguly is poised to return as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), he remains eligible for a BCCI comeback. Harbhajan Singh, a surprise nominee from the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), has maintained a low profile despite the buzz. Raghuram Bhatt, 67, who played two Tests in 1983, has also kept silent since his name emerged.

Names of a few prominent domestic players, like Jaydev Shah (Saurashtra) and Mithun Minhas (J&K), have also surfaced, but the central government’s preference for international names — visible across other sports bodies such as the IOA (PT Usha), Hockey India (Dilip Tirkey), and AIFF (Kalyan Chaubey) — may work against them.

Rajeev Shukla: A Silent Contender

Current BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, who is serving as acting president following Roger Binny’s exit upon turning 70 — the constitutional age limit — is seen as a strong contender. A veteran of BCCI politics, Shukla has not commented publicly about his potential candidacy, but his longstanding involvement keeps him in the race.

Other Key Positions: What's Known So Far

  • Devajit Saikia (Assam) and Prabhtej Bhatia (Chhattisgarh) are expected to retain their roles as secretary and treasurer respectively.

  • The joint secretary post remains uncertain, with Rohan Dessai’s candidacy under cloud due to unresolved issues within the Goa Cricket Association.

  • The posts of vice-president and IPL Governing Council chairman are yet to be finalized.

Sanjay Naik Not in Contention

Contrary to recent media reports, Sanjay Naik, vice-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), is not expected to be in the running for any BCCI office-bearer roles, including the IPL chairmanship. Naik will, however, represent the MCA at the AGM.

What’s Next?

With the nomination deadline fast approaching and key roles still undecided, clarity is expected in the coming days. As political consultations begin and lobbying intensifies behind the scenes, the cricketing world awaits the announcement of the next leader of Indian cricket’s most powerful body.