by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
SRINAGAR: Mithun Manhas has been elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the most influential chair in world cricket. He is the first person from Jammu and Kashmir to occupy the post, following the resignation of Roger Binny.
The announcement sparked jubilation across the region. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh called it a providential Sunday for Doda district, once among the most remote in the state. Within hours, Sheetal Devi from Kishtwar emerged as a world champion and Manhas from Bhaderwah assumed command of Indian cricket’s nerve centre.
“A momentous occasion to celebrate! Mithun Manhas has been officially declared as the new President of the ‘Board of Control for Cricket in India’ BCCI,” Dr Singh posted on X. “What a providential Sunday for the erstwhile district of Doda, which also happens to be my home district. Within a gap of a few hours, first a daughter of Kishtwar, Sheetal, shines out as World Champion and soon thereafter a son of Bhaderwah, Mithun, stands atop.”
The Cricketer
Born in Jammu in 1979, Manhas grew up in Bhaderwah before moving to Delhi in search of opportunities. At the time, Jammu and Kashmir had little cricketing infrastructure, forcing many aspiring players to leave the state.
Manhas went on to play 18 years of first-class cricket. He represented Delhi for most of his career before returning to lead the J&K side. Across 157 first-class matches, he scored 9,714 runs at an average of 46, including 27 centuries. He added 3,877 runs in List A games and 1,615 in T20 cricket.
In 2007-08, he was part of the Delhi team that won the Ranji Trophy, ending the capital’s long wait for domestic success. In the IPL, he featured for Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors, and Chennai Super Kings between 2008 and 2014, becoming one of the first cricketers from J&K to play in the league.
Although he never broke into the Indian national team, Manhas earned a reputation as a consistent batsman and steady leader.
The Administrator
After retiring in 2017, Manhas shifted to coaching and administration. He served as a batting consultant in the IPL, including with Gujarat Titans, and worked as technical director of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). Under his guidance, J&K qualified for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals, and structures were put in place to groom local talent.
His elevation to BCCI president follows a pattern of ex-cricketers entering administration, as seen with Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny. Yet unlike them, Manhas was not an international star. His rise is seen as a departure from the board’s preference for household names.
“Maybe my work, my credentials worked in my favour,” he told reporters after being elected unopposed. “It is an honour to be the president of the world’s finest cricketing board. At the same time, it is a responsibility. I will give my best with commitment and dedication.”
The Landscape
On the same day, former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was elected unopposed as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), replacing his brother Snehasish. Congratulating Manhas earlier when he filed his nomination, Ganguly remarked, “It is a very big post. The BCCI manages players of unbelievable talent. I hope he will work really well with his team.”
In the BCCI elections, all positions were filled unopposed. Rajeev Shukla became vice-president, Devajit Saikia secretary, Prabhtej Bhatia joint secretary, Raghuram Bhatt treasurer, and Jaydev Shah a member of the Apex Council.
A Moment for Jammu and Kashmir
For Jammu and Kashmir, Manhas’ ascent carries special weight. The region has produced only a handful of nationally recognised cricketers, Parvez Rasool being the first to play international cricket for India. Infrastructure remains fragile, and politics has often overshadowed sports.
Manhas’ journey reflects this reality. Growing up in Bhaderwah, he had to leave for Delhi to pursue cricket. His career in domestic cricket and his administrative growth symbolise the path of many professionals from the region who found success outside but remained tied to their roots.
The Road Ahead
The BCCI is the richest and most powerful cricket board in the world. It manages international schedules, oversees the IPL, and carries immense financial weight in global cricket. Manhas has said his focus will be development and carrying Indian cricket forward. His agenda, shaped by years with JKCA, is expected to emphasise infrastructure and strengthening the domestic system.
For Jammu and Kashmir, his appointment is more than a personal achievement. It signals the possibility of representation in spaces long thought unreachable. For Indian cricket, it marks a new chapter where administrators with deep domestic grounding, not only international fame, are trusted with leadership.
