Former Delhi captain Mithun Manhas, who once shared dressing rooms with stars like Gautam Gambhir, is emerging as the frontrunner to become the next BCCI President.
With the board’s AGM scheduled for September 28, talks within the administration suggest that Manhas could well be the surprise choice to take over the biggest job in Indian cricket.
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For many fans who mostly saw him in domestic cricket or the IPL, this sudden rise has raised curiosity. Who exactly is Mithun Manhas, and what makes him a strong contender for such a high-profile post?
Who is Mithun Manhas?
Born in Jammu in 1979, Manhas built his reputation as one of India’s most reliable domestic cricketers. Over an 18-year career, he played 157 first-class games, scoring 9,714 runs at an average of above 45. He also has 27 centuries to his name.
He also featured in more than 200 List A and T20 matches and became a familiar figure in Indian domestic cricket.
Manhas was a pillar for Delhi cricket. He captained the side for several seasons, often stepping in when bigger names like Gambhir and Sehwag were away on India duty.
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Manhas also enjoyed stints in the IPL. He represented Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) from 2008 to 2010, sharing the field with Gautam Gambhir.
Later, he moved to Pune Warriors and eventually played under MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings in 2014. Across seven IPL seasons, he featured in 55 games and scored over 500 runs.
Why is his name linked with the BCCI President role?
After retiring in 2017, Manhas smoothly transitioned into coaching and cricket administration. He worked as a batting consultant, was part of IPL support staff, including a role with Gujarat Titans, and even coached Bangladesh Under-19.
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Importantly, he also held a key position with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association as director of operations.
Over the last five years, BCCI has shown interest in having ex-cricketers lead the board, with Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny as recent examples. Now, Manhas could make history as the first uncapped Indian cricketer to hold the president’s post.
What connects Manhas and Indian Coach Gautam Gambhir?
Both Gambhir and Manhas were stalwarts of Delhi cricket and played crucial roles in the team’s 2007-08 Ranji Trophy win.
Their paths also crossed in the IPL. From 2008 to 2010, Manhas and Gambhir turned out together for Delhi Daredevils.
With Gambhir himself taking over as India’s head coach last year and Manhas now in line for the BCCI’s top chair, the two Delhi cricketers could soon be shaping the future of Indian cricket.
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