24 Facts about Anurag Thakur: BCCI’s second youngest President

Anurag Thakur recently became the second youngest BCCI President when he was elected for the posted unanimously on 22 May 2016. His rise to the top hasn’t been an easy road. A dynamic, practical, hardworking and extremely calm head Thakur has grown in stature in leaps and bounds not just in the Indian cricket administration but also as a Member of Parliament. His story could well be synonymous to any anecdote of a destiny’s child. Here are 24 facts about Anurag Thakur.

1. Roots and beginning:

He was born on 24 October 1974 at Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. Born into a political family, he is the eldest son of Prem Kumar Dhumal and Sheela Devi. His father, Prem Kumar Dhumal, was the former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

2. Education:

Thakur did his basic education at Dayanand Model School in Jalandhar. He completed his graduation, Bachelor of Arts, from Doaba College in Jalandhar.

3. Love for the game of cricket:

As a young boy, he developed a penchant for the game of cricket. A right arm off-break bowler, Anurag even led Punjab and North Zone at the age group levels. He has the distinction of leading Punjab to Vijay Merchant Trophy at the U16 level.

4. Leap of faith – playing a first-class match:

It was at the age of 25, when Thakur wished to do the unthinkable. At the age when most players dream of playing for India, he dreamt of becoming a junior national selector. However, the BCCI under Jagmohan Dalmiya, at that time had set the qualification scenario to become the national selector – the candidate must have played at least one first-class match. Thakur made no hesitation in moving to Jammu, to represent his domestic side Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy.

5. The big decision – Retiring after one match:

Thakur represented Himachal Pradesh against the Jammu Kashmir in the 2000-01 Ranji season. Some reports say he even captained the side, however, the records suggest that Rajiv Nayyar eventually led HP in the match. Thakur made a 7-ball duck and later turned up with figures of 2/18 in the first innings. Soon after the match, he announced his retirement from first-class cricket. More importantly for him, he was now qualified for the post of national selector.

6. Youngest to become HPCA President:

He became the youngest man to take over as the President of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) at the age of 26.

7. A boon for Himachal Pradesh:

Many believe that it was his efforts, that turned the backward state of Himachal Pradesh (in cricketing perspective) to one of the leading cricket associations of the country. He is the man behind the construction of the world renowned stadium at Dharamsala. He is also planning to start a full-time academy at the venue.

8. Beginning of political career:

In May 2008, Thakur succeeded his father when he was elected as Member of Parliament of India’s 14th Lok Sabha from Hamirpur constituency. He was first elected to Lok Sabha a by-poll as a candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party.

9. A third time Member of Parliament:

He was re-elected in the 15^th Lok Sabha in the following year in 2009. In 2014, he was again re-elected as a third time MP in the 16th Lok Sabha.

10. Voice of the youth:

He was also made the President of the All India Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha by his political party, a wing that focused on the opinion of the youth of the country.

11. Unfurling the national flag at Srinagar:

Anurag Thakur successfully led the All India Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha march from Kolkata to Lal Chowk in Srinagar under the banner of “Rashtriya Ekta Yatra” Sponsored by Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) to unfurl the National Flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on 26 January 2011.

12. Office bearer at the BCCI:

He became a BCCI office bearer for the first time in 2011 when he was elected joint secretary in N Srinivasan’s administration.

13. Big decision to back Unmukt Chand:

It was in 2012, when Indian team was being picked for the ICC U19 World Cup. He was the convener of the selection committee. It was found that Ankit Bawne, the first choice for leading the team, was overage. Thakur took the initiative to elect the new leader in Unmukt Chand, who later led India U19 to the World Cup triumph.

14. Speaking against the big guns:

Despite being a joint secretary, a position that has not much power to exercise at the BCCI, Thakur voiced his opinions against the then President N Srinivasan’s involvement in the IPL match-fixing scandal in 2013. He went on to quote ‘institutions were bigger than individuals.’

15. Declined the President’s post:

Reportedly, N Srinivasan had approached Anurag and even offered to support his nomination for the president’s post. But he declined the offer since he was loyal to the Jagmohan Dalmiya Camp. Dalmiya then took over as the BCCI President in 2014.

16. Surprise for the Women cricketers:

When the Indian women team defeated the New Zealand Women team last year, the BCCI announced rewards for them. One of the cricketers then believed it would be around 5 lakhs to be distributed among the team. The actual reward, announced by Mr Thakur was Rs 20 lakhs ($29,700), which left the player and her teammates speechless.

17. Winning the voices of the foes:

His success can be accredited to the fact that he has won over the minds of the people who once did not prefer him. In the Secretary elections last time around, his candidature was highly opposed by the East Zone representatives. He had won by just one vote and defeated Sanjay Patel in the elections. Now, a year later, he was unanimously elected as the BCCI President and was unopposed by the same East Zone representatives.

18. Second youngest BCCI President:

When he took over the BCCI President post on 16 May 2016, he became the 2nd youngest president at the age of 41 in the history of the organization, after Fateh Singh Gaekwad, who was appointed the BCCI president in 1963 at the age of 33.

19. Role in the Parliament:

As a Member of the Parliament, Anurag is currently the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT and Member of Public Accounts Committee.

20. Winning the best Parliamentarian:

In the year 2011, when he had just taken over a position in BCCI office, he was also named as the winner of Best Young Parliamentarian award.

21. Dynamic young leader:

The World Economic Forum (WEF) named him among one of the global young leaders in the year 2014.

22. Personal life:

He married Shefali Thakur, daughter of Gulab Singh Thakur, former Public Works Department minister in the government of Himachal Pradesh, on 27 November 2002. He has two sons, named Jaiaditya and Udayveer.

23. Cordial relations with senior players:

Anurag Thakur is one of those few BCCI officials, who the senior players call by his first name. Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman are known to have a good relation with the BCCI Prez.

24. Major Positions held:

3 time Member of Parliament, President (BJYM – Youth wing of BJP), President (Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association), Secretary (BCCI), President (BCCI).