Who Is Mithun Manhas? Ex-Delhi Skipper And IPL Player To Be New BCCI President

Mithun Manhas, a former domestic stalwart and IPL regular, is all set to become the next president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). On Sunday, September 21, he officially filed his nomination, positioning himself to succeed Roger Binny.

The announcement came as a surprise since Manhas' name had not been part of the pre-meeting discussions. High-profile contenders such as Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh were also considered, but during a crucial meeting in Delhi, Manhas emerged as the consensus choice.

Alongside this development, veteran administrator Rajeev Shukla will continue as BCCI vice-president. Raghuram Bhatt, from Karnataka, is set to take charge as treasurer, while Arun Dhumal will retain his position as IPL chairman. Devajit Saikia, who succeeded Jay Shah, will also continue as BCCI secretary.

Domestic and IPL Career

Manhas, who made his debut in the 1997/98 season, enjoyed a prolific domestic career. He played 157 first-class matches, amassing 9,714 runs at an impressive average of 45.82. Known for his steady batting, he occasionally bowled part-time but never managed to break into the Indian senior team's middle order, which was dominated by legends like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and VVS Laxman.

He captained Delhi in the Ranji Trophy and guided the team to victory in the 2007/08 season, scoring 921 runs that year at an average of 57.56. In limited-overs cricket, Manhas played 221 matches but again fell short of a national call-up. However, he did represent India A before retiring in 2017.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Manhas featured in 55 matches across different franchises, including Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Pune Warriors India, and Chennai Super Kings. Over these games, he scored 514 runs at a strike rate of 109.36.

Shift to Administration

After hanging up his boots, Manhas transitioned into cricket administration. He has been associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and has represented the body at BCCI's Annual General Meetings. His nomination for BCCI president was filed on September 21 and will be ratified during the board's AGM scheduled for September 28.

At 45, Mithun Manhas now stands at the threshold of one of the most powerful positions in world cricket, marking a significant shift from his on-field career to cricket governance.