Reports: Rajeev Shukla's BCCI vice-president future uncertain as age rule looms in 2027

Rajeev Shukla's position as BCCI vice-president is under serious doubt because he will be 70 in July 2027, bringing him directly into conflict with the board's constitutional age disqualification rule, as per a report from The Telegraph online. The uncertainty has come to the fore ahead of the BCCI annual general meeting scheduled in Mumbai on September 18, 2026.

He was elected unopposed as BCCI vice-president on December 18, 2020, under the board's new constitution, and will soon complete six years in that office. Adding to the complexity, the constitution also requires him to enter a three-year cooling-off period in December 2026, which creates a separate layer of uncertainty around his continued tenure.

Shukla does not feature in the draft electoral roll ahead of the September 18 annual general meeting. Electoral officer AK Joti has issued a notice for elections to two posts of the IPL governing council under Rule 28 of the constitution, but no notification has been issued for the BCCI vice-president's post. There are varying versions circulating in Board circles about how his tenure will be handled, and no official clarity has emerged.

What does the BCCI constitution say about the age limit?

The BCCI constitution is explicit on the matter of age eligibility for office bearers. Rule 6(5)(b) of the constitution sets out the disqualification criteria in direct terms, and the 70-year threshold has already been applied to other senior officials in recent years.

As per Rule 6(5)(b), "a person shall be disqualified from being an office bearer, a member of the apex council, governing council or any committee of the BCCI if he or she has attained the age of 70 years."

The rule has precedent. Brijesh Patel turned 70 in November 2022 and had to vacate his position as IPL chairman in September 2022, before reaching that birthday. More recently, Roger Binny completed 70 in July 2025, after which the BCCI functioned with Shukla as interim president for nearly two months. Both cases confirm that the board has enforced the age cap consistently when it has fallen due.

What happens next for Shukla and the vice-president's post?

Whether the BCCI will allow Shukla to continue in his role until July 2027, when he actually turns 70, or act earlier remains unresolved. There are varying accounts within Board circles, and no official position has been stated publicly on the matter. However, it is important to mention Shukla's passion for and contribution to Indian cricket.

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The absence of any election notification for the vice-president's post ahead of the September 18 annual general meeting adds to the ambiguity. It is not clear whether the board intends to address the vacancy at this meeting or defer the matter to a later date. The exact timing and mechanism for any transition have not been confirmed by the BCCI.