'Playground For Sons Of BJP Leaders': Nepotism Allegations Rock BCCI
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), India’s cricket governing body, is allegedly being controlled by the families of the ruling BJP leaders. From the appointment of Jay Shah, Amit Shah’s son, as BBCI chief to the latest ascension of Mahanaryaman Scindia, son of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, to become the youngest President of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Board at the age of 29, the list lingers.
Mahanaaryaman Rao Scindia, was crowned for the position on Tuesday, September 2, as there were no contenders against the son of a Union minister, helping him to become the chief of the state cricket body since its establishment in 1957.
An X user, Ankit Mayank, shared a thread which showcased the sons of BJP leaders as well as administrators of cricket bodies in the country. “BCCI is no longer a sports admin body, it has now become a playground for the sons of BJP leaders,” the user wrote on the social media platform.
Pointing out the appointment of Jay Shah as BCCI chairperson in 2019, Mayank wondered what qualifications the BJP big wig’s son has to sit in the country’s top cricket governing body, terming the ascension as nepotism. In 2024, Jay Shah took over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair, becoming the youngest person to hold the prestigious post. The B. Tech graduate began his career in cricket administration in 2009, becoming an Executive Board Member of the Gujarat Cricket Association. Then, gradually held several important portfolios in the cricket governing bodies.
In 2023, Rohan Jaitley, a lawyer, investor, and former BJP minister Arun Jaitley’s son became Delhi Cricket Board Chief, with no background in sports or cricket. He has been a practicing lawyer in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, who also got caught in a sexual harassment controversy, the user noted.
In 2019, Arun Dhumal, former BJP CM Prem Kumar Dhumal’s son and the saffron party’s firebrand leader Anurag Thakur’s brother, was elected as the treasurer of the IPL and later in 2022 climbed to the role of chair of the cricket league. The list follows with the latest appointment of Mahanaaryaman Scindia as the youngest President of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Board on Tuesday. In others states, especially Rajasthan, there have been allegations of nepotism favoring the ruling BJP. Many criticize the political parties for turning sports as a political platform.
‘Papa the Greats’ of BJP & BCCI 🚨
BCCI is no longer a sports admin body, it has now become playground for the sons of BJP leaders
Mega Explosive Thread 🧵 pic.twitter.com/r8MKJoQihr
— Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) September 3, 2025
