Roger Binny is nearing the end of his term as BCCI president, and it’s not due to performance or politics, just policy. The former India all-rounder turns 70 on July 19, which activates the BCCI’s age-limit clause.
That means Binny will step aside, and someone else will step in. It’s a change triggered not by drama, but by the rules and those rules point to Rajeev Shukla.
Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp
The veteran administrator, who’s held key roles in Indian cricket for over a decade, will be the one filling in, at least until elections take place later this year. So, who exactly is he and why does this shift matter?
Rajeev Shukla to take over as interim BCCI President
Rajeev Shukla, currently serving as vice-president, is next in line to take charge once Binny vacates the top job. That’s because of a specific rule in the BCCI constitution: anyone crossing 70 is automatically ineligible to hold office. Binny, who took over from Sourav Ganguly in 2022, will hit that mark next month.
Shukla, 65, isn’t new to this. He’s a seasoned insider. A Rajya Sabha MP and one of Indian cricket’s most visible faces, he was IPL chairman from 2011 to 2018 and also served as UPCA secretary. He became BCCI VP in 2020 and was re-elected unopposed in 2022.
The BCCI rules are clear: “The Vice President shall officiate in the President’s absence when the President is unavailable.” That’s how Shukla steps in, not as an elected replacement, but as a caretaker, much like Devajit Saikia did when Jay Shah vacated his secretary role to become ICC chairman.
MORE: Jasprit Bumrah: 'Family comes before cricket'
Unless he’s elected in September, Shukla’s stint as interim president is expected to last just a few months. But in a system where timing matters, even interim roles can end up being longer than expected.