Sachin Tendulkar, often called the “God of Cricket”, has always stayed away from controversies, letting his bat do the talking. Even after retirement, he continues to inspire millions with his humility and clarity. That same clarity was visible when he addressed the recent buzz linking his name to Indian cricket’s most powerful administrative post.
In the days leading up to the BCCI Annual General Meeting later this month, reports suggested that the board was keen to bring in a cricketing legend as its new president. Some stories went further, hinting that Sachin Tendulkar himself could succeed Roger Binny in the top role. The rumours quickly gained traction, given Tendulkar’s unmatched stature in the sport.
However, Sachin Tendulkar wasted no time in dismissing the talk. Through his management company, SRT Sports Management Pvt Ltd, he issued a statement firmly rejecting the idea. The statement clarified that he had not been approached, nor was he being considered for the position. It urged everyone to ignore such baseless speculation, emphasising that no such development had taken place.
The timing of these rumours coincides with the BCCI’s elections, scheduled for September 28 at the Annual General Meeting. This year’s elections will also see the appointment of the board’s ombudsman and ethics officer, as well as India’s representative to the International Cricket Council. Roger Binny, who was elected as the president in October 2022, ended his tenure earlier this year after reaching the age limit of 70 set by the BCCI constitution.
While the AGM technically involves elections for several positions, insiders believe that only the president’s role is truly in play, with other office bearers expected to continue. The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who has completed over three years in different roles and was unanimously elected as secretary earlier this year, is set to stay on. Alongside him, Rohan Gauns Desai, who took charge as joint secretary in March, and Prabhtej Bhatia, elected treasurer in January, are also likely to retain their positions.
Despite the storm of speculation, Sachin Tendulkar’s straightforward denial has put an end to the chatter. For now, the focus shifts back to the BCCI elections, where all eyes remain on who will step into the president’s role after Roger Binny’s exit.
