Why is it mandatory for Roger Binny to step down as BCCI President? Explained

Former Indian all-rounder and the current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Roger Binny, is set to step down from his position on July 19, 2025, as he turns 70. His exit isn't due to controversy or performance but rather a constitutional clause that governs the functioning of India’s apex cricket body.

Appointed as the 36th BCCI president in October 2022, Binny succeeded Sourav Ganguly. During his nearly three-year tenure, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, while the launch of the Women's Premier League (WPL) also occurred under his leadership. However, his leadership must now come to an end due to a mandatory rule in the BCCI’s constitution.

Why does Roger Bunny need to vacate his BCCI president post?

The age-cap clause, added to the BCCI constitution following recommendations from the Justice RM Lodha Committee and approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, states that no official shall hold office after attaining the age of 70. 

According to BCCI guidelines, an individual:

• Must be a citizen of India
• Should not be 70 years or older
• Must not be declared insolvent or of unsound mind
• Should not be a minister, public servant, or office bearer of another sports body
• Must not have served in the BCCI for more than nine cumulative years

Who will replace Roger Binny?

With Binny stepping down, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla is the frontrunner to take over as interim president. The 65-year-old administrator has earlier served as IPL chairman and is currently a Member of Parliament and a senior Congress leader. According to reports, Shukla may hold the post until the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September 2025, when elections for the next full-term president are expected. Meanwhile, Binny would technically become ineligible on his 70th birthday, and Shukla could step in as per the BCCI constitution.