BCCI AGM 2025: Key Leadership Changes Expected Ahead of Elections

The upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), scheduled for the last week of September 2025, will see significant leadership changes as key positions, including the presidency and the chairmanship of the Indian Premier League (IPL), are set to become vacant. This meeting is expected to attract attention as it will determine the direction of Indian cricket in the years to come.

Arun Dhumal, the current IPL chairman, is likely to step down due to a mandatory cooling-off period after serving a cumulative six-year term. As a result, there are several names being discussed as potential successors, although no official decisions have been made at this stage. Meanwhile, Devajit Saikia, who has served as joint secretary for two years and three months and as secretary for nine months, is expected to retain his position, along with joint secretary Rohan Gauns Desai and Prabhtej Bhatia, both in their first year of office.

The race for the IPL chairmanship is heating up, with Sanjay Naik, a former secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association, and current BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla being considered as frontrunners. If Shukla is re-elected as IPL chairman, it is possible that Rakesh Tiwary, the president of the Bihar Cricket Association and a member of the BJP, may emerge as a candidate for the BCCI vice-presidency.

The AGM will be conducted in accordance with the BCCI’s internal regulations, which are expected to limit the number of vacancies this year. The implementation of the National Sports Governance Act is anticipated to take some time, meaning the BCCI is not expected to delay its elections until then. The current president, Roger Binny, who celebrated his 70th birthday in July, is ineligible for re-election according to the existing constitution.

A significant point of discussion will be the appointment of the new BCCI president. Stakeholders within the organization express a desire for a prominent former player to take on this prestigious role. The legacy of past presidents, such as Sourav Ganguly, a celebrated former captain of the Indian national team, and Binny, who was part of India’s first World Cup-winning squad, raises questions about the willingness of distinguished cricketers to accept such honorary positions.

The situation surrounding Shukla is equally intriguing. His term as vice-president began in 2020, and he has one year remaining under the Lodha Constitution. However, if the National Sports Governance Act is enacted before the next AGM in 2026, he may not need to undergo a mandatory cooling-off period.

As the BCCI prepares for this critical AGM, the choices made will undoubtedly shape the future landscape of cricket in India. With numerous influential positions at stake, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the governance of the sport.