Mithun Manhas Files Nomination for BCCI President, Set to Be Elected Unopposed

Mithun Manhas Files Nomination for BCCI President, Set to Be Elected Unopposed

Former Delhi cricketer Mithun Manhas has officially filed his nomination for the post of BCCI president, emerging as the clear front-runner to take over Indian cricket's top administrative position. With no other serious contenders remaining in the fray, Manhas is expected to be elected unopposed when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducts its elections at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 28.

Manhas, 45, played 157 first-class matches during a prolific domestic career that spanned from 1998 to 2016. His nomination was backed by the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), where he has served in an administrative capacity in recent years.

In a last-minute development, former India spinner Raghuram Bhatt, who was also eyeing the top post, instead filed his nomination for the position of BCCI treasurer. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Bhatt said, “I will do my best for Indian cricket and the BCCI in whatever way I can.”

Other Key Nominations Filed

  • Devajit Saikia has filed for re-election as BCCI secretary.

  • Prabhtej Bhatia (Chhattisgarh) has filed for the role of joint secretary, replacing Rohan Dessai, who lost his position after a leadership change within the Goa Cricket Association.

  • Rajeev Shukla will continue as vice-president.

  • Raghuram Bhatt will take over as treasurer, allowing Bhatia to move into the joint secretary’s role.

Uncertainty Resolved Around IPL Chairman

There was some initial uncertainty around Arun Dhumal, chairman of the IPL Governing Council, amid questions about whether he would be affected by the BCCI's cooling-off period rules. However, following legal consultation, he was cleared to continue. As of the time of this report, Dhumal had not yet filed his nomination.

Surprise Choice Backed by Power Brokers

Manhas’ nomination came as a surprise to many, especially since bigger names like Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh were reportedly in contention until the last moment. However, after a high-level meeting held at a Union Minister’s residence in Delhi on Saturday night, the decision to support Manhas was finalized.

Present at the closed-door meeting were top BCCI officials including Saikia, Shukla, Arun Dhumal, and Ashish Shelar, along with senior cricket administrators such as Niranjan Shah, Kasi Viswanathan (representing former BCCI president N Srinivasan), and Brijesh Patel. Ganguly was reportedly in Delhi on the same day, though it remains unclear whether he attended the meeting.

Speaking from the BCCI office, Shukla commented, “His cricketing background has helped him get the position.”

What’s Next?

With the nomination deadline having closed on Sunday, the stage is set for a largely uncontested election at the BCCI AGM on September 28 in Mumbai. If no new candidates emerge, the current nominations will be confirmed, bringing Mithun Manhas to the helm of Indian cricket administration.