A significant shift is underway in Indian cricket’s top administrative body! Mithun Manhas, a respected figure in domestic cricket, is on track to be elected unopposed as the next President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on September 28. Manhas, a seasoned veteran with 157 First Class matches under his belt and a former captain of Delhi, formally submitted his nomination papers at the BCCI headquarters on Sunday.
Sunday marked the final day for submitting nominations, and remarkably, all six coveted positions within the Apex Council are expected to see unopposed elections, with candidates having personally filed their papers.
“We reached a unanimous decision to put forward Mithun Manhas for the presidency,” stated Rajeev Shukla, who himself is set to retain his role as vice-president. “Given his extensive background as a former player, the choice to make him president was clear.”
Manhas, who will celebrate his 46th birthday next month, chose not to engage with the press. His ascent marks him as arguably the most understated BCCI chief since the Supreme Court-mandated administrative reforms were enacted. This stands in contrast to his immediate predecessors: former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who served from 2019 to 2022, and Roger Binny, a hero from the 1983 World Cup-winning squad.
Known for his long and impactful career as Delhi’s batting cornerstone before his final stint with Jammu & Kashmir, Manhas is widely regarded as a trusted associate within the BCCI’s influential circles. A classic, elegant batter who many believe was unlucky to miss out on an India cap, his selection for the top role speaks volumes about the confidence placed in him, even over some Test legends.
Beyond his playing days, Manhas also featured in 44 IPL matches between 2010 and 2014 and later served as an assistant coach for the Gujarat Titans for three seasons. He has been nominated to represent Jammu & Kashmir at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Joining him in key roles will be former Test spinners Harbhajan Singh and Raghuram Bhat, representing Punjab and Karnataka, respectively.
The highly anticipated BCCI election will take place during the Annual General Meeting at its Mumbai headquarters next Sunday. Sources indicate that the BCCI leadership, following consultations with senior government ministers, coalesced around Manhas as their consensus candidate.
Devajit Saikia is also confirmed to continue his tenure as secretary, alongside Rajeev Shukla as vice-president. Raghuram Bhat officially filed his nomination for the treasurer’s post on Sunday. Additionally, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, who has served as joint secretary for nearly a year, is also expected to be elected unopposed.
The sixth and final position in the BCCI Apex Council is anticipated to go to Jaydev Shah, the former Saurashtra captain renowned for holding the record for leading a team in the highest number of Ranji Trophy matches.
“I’ve served as secretary for several months, and my colleagues expressed their desire for me to continue by filing my nomination,” explained Saikia, who has played four Ranji games for Assam. Following a thorough scrutiny of all nomination papers, election officer A.K. Joti will officially release the final list of valid nominations on Monday.