In a significant development for Indian cricket, former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas is poised to take over as the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This marks a historic moment, as the 45-year-old is set to become the first uncapped cricketer – someone who never played for India at the international level – to lead the nation’s most powerful sporting body.
The deadline for filing nominations for the BCCI presidential election is Sunday, with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 28. Following a recent trend since the 2019 constitutional amendment, the position is widely expected to be filled unopposed. In recent years, the board has shown a clear preference for former cricketers in the top role, with legends like Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny having served before Manhas.
Who is Mithun Manhas?
Manhas brings a unique blend of administrative acumen and extensive cricketing experience to the table. He has actively contributed to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) in an administrative capacity and has also represented the state at various BCCI AGMs. On the field, he was a pillar of consistency and reliability in Indian domestic cricket.
His first-class debut was in the 1997/98 season, where he quickly established himself as a steady middle-order batsman for Delhi. He thrived during an era brimming with batting giants such as Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, and Sourav Ganguly, which, despite his talent, limited his opportunities for an India cap. Nevertheless, Manhas carved out a distinguished career, notably leading Delhi to a memorable Ranji Trophy title victory in the 2007-08 season, during which he amassed an impressive 921 runs at an average of 57.56.
A true all-rounder in spirit, Manhas was primarily a right-handed batsman, but his versatility extended to off-spin bowling and occasional wicket-keeping. His illustrious career spans 157 first-class matches, yielding 9,714 runs at an average of 45.82, including 27 centuries and 49 half-centuries. Beyond domestic red-ball cricket, he also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for franchises like Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors, and Chennai Super Kings.
With his profound cricketing background and proven administrative experience, Mithun Manhas is now poised to usher in a new era for Indian cricket’s governing body.
Mithun Manhas’ Career Stats:
- First-class: Matches 157 | Runs 9714 | Highest Score 205* | Average 45.82 | 27 Centuries | 49 Fifties
- List A: Matches 130 | Runs 4126 | Highest Score 148 | Average 45.84 | 5 Centuries | 26 Fifties
- T20s: Matches 91 | Runs 1170 | Highest Score 52 | Average 21.66 | 1 Fifty