Manhas Becomes BCCI President: Reasons He Beat Ganguly & Harbhajan

In a surprising development at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting, Mithun Manhas was elected the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Many expected former India cricketers like Sourav Ganguly or Harbhajan Singh to be contenders — yet the board chose Manhas instead. The decision signals a shift toward administrators with strong domestic credentials and governance experience.

What We Know About Manhas’ Credentials

1. A former Delhi captain and long-time domestic cricketer, Manhas played over 157 first-class matches and scored nearly 9,700 runs across formats.

2. He has been active in cricket administration, contributing to the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), where he spearheaded facility upgrades and pitch improvements.

3. He is now the 37th BCCI president, succeeding Roger Binny, who stepped down after completing his term.

4. Manhas becomes the first person from Jammu & Kashmir to head the BCCI, marking a historic milestone.

Why He Was Preferred Over Ganguly & Harbhajan

Observers suggest multiple reasons for his selection:

• Administrative depth over celebrity: While Ganguly and Harbhajan have star power, Manhas offers administrative experience and structural reforms track record.

• Non-controversial profile: The board perhaps favored someone seen as a “doer” rather than a polarizing public figure.

• Regional representation: His roots in J&K add geographic diversity to the board’s leadership.

• Consensus building: Manhas is viewed as someone who can negotiate across power centers in cricket governance — a key trait for BCCI’s complex ecosystem.

With India hosting the 2026 T20 World Cup and upcoming international events, the new BCCI president will be under pressure to deliver on infrastructure, domestic cricket depth, and global standards.

His appointment may push a governance-first agenda: more transparency, use of data analytics, and a focus on grassroots growth.

For Ganguly and Harbhajan, this is a signal: playing legacy is not the sole factor — proven administrative ability now matters more than ever.