Mithun Manhas Set to Become New BCCI President, First Uncapped Cricketer to Hold Post

Former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas is almost certain to become the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Manhas is expected to be elected unopposed at the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 28. The 45-year-old will take over from Roger Binny, who resigned upon attaining the age of 70. The appointment not only recognizes Manhas's extensive cricket career but is also the selection of an uncapped domestic player to the highest administrative position. 

This will be the first-ever instance in BCCI history when an uncapped cricketer (a player who has not played for India at any level) will occupy this high-profile role. Previously, former captains like Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny held this role. Senior officials and government representatives unanimously elected Manhas as the candidate at a recent informal meeting in Delhi.

Manhas will attend the AGM as the current administrator of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). There will be no major changes to other key positions in this election. Devjit Saikia will remain secretary, while Rajiv Shukla will retain his position as vice-president. Arun Dhumal is considered the IPL chairman, and Raghuram Bhatt is considered the treasurer.

Mithun Manhas was born on October 12, 1979, in Jammu. He was passionate about cricket since childhood and made his debut for Delhi in 1998. Manhas, who represented Delhi until 2015, also played for Jammu and Kashmir between 2015 and 2017, making significant contributions to his home state. In domestic cricket, he was known as a reliable middle-order batsman.

Manhas played a total of 157 first-class matches, scoring 9,714 runs at an impressive average of 45.82, including 27 centuries and 49 half-centuries. In List A cricket, he scored 4,126 runs in 130 matches at an average of 45.84, including 5 centuries and 26 half-centuries. In the T20 format, he scored 1,170 runs in 91 matches at an average of 21.66. The right-handed batsman also contributed with the ball, taking a total of 70 wickets in his career. Although he didn't receive a chance at the international level, his tenacity on domestic grounds impressed many senior players. As Delhi's captain, he led the team to several important victories.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) brought Manhas national recognition. He was the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to appear in the IPL. He represented the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Pune Warriors India (PWI), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He scored 514 runs in 55 IPL matches at an average of 22.34. His time with CSK was particularly notable, where he played crucial innings under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This experience later became the foundation for his coaching career.

After retiring from cricket, Manhas pursued coaching. In February 2017, he became the assistant coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS). In October 2017, he was appointed as the batting consultant for the Bangladesh Under-19 team, where he helped nurture young talent. He became the assistant coach of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the 2019 IPL season, where he worked closely with Virat Kohli and the team. As assistant coach of the Gujarat Titans in 2022, he contributed to their IPL victory. Most recently, as Director of Cricket Operations at the JKCA, he oversaw development work at the state level.