BCCI Elections: Arun Dhumal could leave IPL chairman role as cooling-off period looms large

The current chairman of the IPL Governing Council, Arun Dhumal, may need to vacate his position. With Dhumal completing a six-year term in the BCCI in two positions in October 2025, he may need to serve a three-year cooling-off period before he can hold any positions. However, as the BCCI elections approach this month, the board members are seeking guidance on whether Dhumal needs to serve a cooling-off period. There are also discussions ongoing on the fate of current BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia and acting president Rajeev Shukla.

BCCI Elections discussions

Does Arun Dhumal need to serve a cooling-off period?
Will Devjit Saikia continue as the secretary?
Will Rajeev Shukla seek election as the president?
Who will be the new vice-president?

The Arun Dhumal question

Arun Dhumal was elected as the treasurer in 2019. But in 2022, Dhumal took up the role of IPL chairman. As per the Supreme Court verdict in 2022, an office bearer can serve a continuous six-year term before the cooling-off period sets in. Here, the term office bearer is important. As per the BCCI constitution, only the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are considered office bearers. The role of IPL chairman is not that of an office bearer.

Hence, even though Dhumal has completed six years at the BCCI, he hasn’t been in an office-bearer role for six years. Dhumal spent three years (2019-22) as the BCCI treasurer, the role of an office bearer. He then spent three years (2022-current) as the IPL chairman. Thus, he could seek the post of an office bearer again. However, the board is currently seeking advice ahead of the BCCI elections 2025.

“We are seeking clarity on whether the cooling period will come into effect when someone completes six years in the BCCI. As of now, the understanding is that the cooling-off period is only specific to the office bearers,” a BCCI official told InsideSport.

According to a TOI report, Anirudh Chaudhry, the former BCCI treasurer, could replace Arun Dhumal as the IPL chairman if the latter is required to serve a cooling-off period.

Devjit Saikia to continue as the Secretary?

Saikia was elected as the Joint Secretary in 2022. With Jay Shah moving to the ICC, Saikia was elevated to the role of secretary in December last year. The role became permanent in January this year. In these nine months, Devjit Saikia has managed a lot of off-field issues, including the transition of the Test team captain from Rohit Sharma to Shubman Gill. Virat Kohli’s Test retirement also came during his tenure.

With the BCCI going through a transition in terms of revenue and sponsorship issues following the ban on real-money gaming companies and ads, the Indian board would need an experienced hand to oversee proceedings. Saikia, having done a decent job so far, is the favourite to continue as the secretary.

Rajeev Shukla new BCCI president?

The senior-most in the BCCI, Rajeev Shukla, has been the unmovable stone. He has been in multiple sub-committees, committees, played the role of IPL chairman and the India team manager. He was elected as the Vice-President of the BCCI in 2020 and was reelected. Currently, he is the acting President of the BCCI. President Roger Binny stepped down after he turned 70, the age cap as per the board’s constitution.

With vast experience on his side, Shukla could make his role as the President permanent. However, the veteran administrator will have to serve a cooling-off period next year as he will complete six years as an office bearer in December 2026. Hence, the BCCI administrators will need to take a call on whether to have a president for 15 months or elect someone who can serve longer. However, Shukla may get a reprieve from the cooling-off period if he takes up the IPL chairman role or the National Sports Governance Act comes into effect. As per the Sports Governance Act, a cooling-off period is not necessary.

There are currently no prominent candidates who can contest the vice presidential or presidential elections. But as things go with BCCI elections, there could be a new name if the stakeholders don’t agree on Shukla to seek a permanent role. For now, Shukla remains the favourite to become the permanent president, even if it is for a year.

Cricket India Cricket Team