Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 28: In a significant development for Indian cricket, former Delhi cricketer Mithun Manhas has been elected as the new President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The announcement was made during the board’s annual general meeting held at its headquarters in Mumbai on Sunday.
Manhas steps into the role following the resignation of Roger Binny in August 2025. Rajeev Shukla had been serving as interim president until now. With this appointment, Manhas becomes only the third former cricketer—after Sourav Ganguly and Binny—to take the helm of Indian cricket’s governing body.
Hailing originally from Doda district in Jammu & Kashmir, Manhas’s rise to the BCCI presidency has been lauded as a landmark moment. Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his joy on X (formerly Twitter), stating,
"A momentous occasion to celebrate! Mithun Manhas has been officially declared as the new President of the BCCI. What a providential Sunday for the erstwhile district of Doda, which also happens to be my own home district."
Backed by the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), Manhas emerged as the frontrunner following informal talks among key cricket administrators last week.
Aged 45, Manhas brings with him a rich blend of experience as both a player and a coach. He played the bulk of his domestic cricket for Delhi before taking on leadership and mentoring roles in Jammu & Kashmir. Renowned for his composed temperament and deep connection with grassroots cricket, he has remained actively involved in the sport since his retirement.
His first-class career boasts impressive numbers:
• 147 matches
• 9,714 runs at an average of 45.82
• 27 centuries and 49 fifties
His standout performance came during Delhi’s title-winning 2007–08 Ranji Trophy season, where he scored 921 runs at an average of 57.56.
In List A cricket, Manhas accumulated 4,126 runs from 130 matches, averaging 45.84, with 5 centuries and 26 fifties. He also took a total of 75 wickets across formats, including 40 in first-class games.
Manhas has IPL experience as well, having represented Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Pune Warriors India, and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from the tournament’s inception until 2014. He played 55 IPL matches, scoring 514 runs at an average of 22.34 and a strike rate of 109.36.
The AGM also saw a reshuffling of other key positions:
• Rajeev Shukla was re-elected as vice-president
• Devajit Saikia retained his post as secretary
• Prabhtej Singh Bhatia was named joint secretary, replacing Rohan Gauns Desai
• Raghuram Bhat was elected treasurer
With Manhas at the helm, Indian cricket enters a new chapter—one that promises continuity, grassroots focus, and a fresh perspective from someone who has lived the game both on and off the field.