Who Is Replacing Jay Shah In BCCI?

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 The Full Story on Devajit Saikia and His New Role

For years, the BCCI had a single most powerful signature – that of Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary. He had a remarkable tenure during which the BCCI:

  • managed to bag a record-breaking IPL media rights deal worth ₹48,390 crore for 2023–27, making the IPL one of the world’s most valuable sports leagues. And Wikipedia.
  • launched the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and hosted the highly successful 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Wikipedia

It was only in late 2024 that the story changed when Jay Shah moved on to the top job in world cricket – he was elected ICC Chairman, and his term started on 1 December 2024. Wikipedia

So, the big question for fans, state associations and media was:

Who is going to replace Jay Shah as BCCI Secretary?

The Secretary is no mere title, its the role that clears contracts, signs off on the domestic calendars, oversees the IPL operations and drives India’s cricket strategy worldwide.

For a month after Shah formally took up his new role the position in BCCI went un-filled . There was speculation, but at the end of the day not many people actually knew who had taken the reins and what he had to bring to the table.

The Agitation

So why is this question so important?

1. BCCI – the powerhouse of world cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is way more than just any ordinary board :-

  • It controls the world’s richest T20 league (IPL).
  • It brokers massive broadcast deals.
  • It has a strong influence on ICC policies, FTP (Future Tours Programme), and cricket’s place in the Olympics. Wikipedia

The Secretary sits right at the heart of all that activity. When that seat changes, it begins to affect:

  • IPL franchise owners
  • Player contracts and central contracts
  • Domestic cricket funding
  • Women’s cricket roadmap
  • India’s position in ACC and ICC politics

2. Jay Shah’s move left a big leadership gap

When Jay Shah became ICC Chairman, he had to vacate his BCCI Secretary post. Moneycontrol

  • His BCCI term as Secretary lasted from 24 October 2019 to 8 December 2024. Wikipedia
  • After he moved to ICC, the BCCI had a Special General Meeting (SGM) and internal constitutional process to find a replacement for Shah. Cricket.com+1

With no permanent secretary even for a little while, there were questions about:

  • Who would be signing off on key decisions?
  • Who would represent BCCI at ICC Board as Director?
  • Would the new person be as influential and as experienced a cricketer as Shah?

3. Names were floated but clarity was missing

Before the formal anouncement, reports claimed that a seasoned administrator with a legal and cricket background would step in. myKhel+1

Fans searching “Who will replace Jay Shah in BCCI?” often landed on old speculative articles or out of date updates.
So let’s cut through all the speculation and confusion and give you the clear, up-to-date answer.

The Solution: Devajit Saikia Becomes the New BCCI Secretary

Short answer

Jay Shah has been replaced as BCCI Secretary by Devajit Saikia, an advocate, former first-class cricketer from Assam, and long-time cricket administrator.

He is now:

  • Secretary, BCCI (Term started December 2024, formally elected in January 2025 and re-elected in September 2025). Wikipedia+1
  • Board Director at ICC representing BCCI. Wikipedia

Now, let’s have a closer look at who he is and what his appointment means.

Who Is Devajit Saikia? The Profile of Jay Shah’s Successor

1. Cricket and playing background

Devajit Saikia is not someone who only knows cricket from a book. He actually played the game.

  • Former Assam first-class cricketer – a wicketkeeper and middle-order batter. Wikipedia+1
  • He represented Assam in Ranji Trophy and various age-group tournaments (Under-15, Under-19). Wikipedia

This gives him first-hand experience of:

  • The day to day life and training of domestic players
  • The challenges of smaller states
  • What it takes to build cricket structures away from big metros

2. Legal and administrative career

After cricket, Saikia went on to build a strong legal career:

  • Advocate General of Assam – the top law officer of the state, and the youngest to hold this role when appointed in 2021. Wikipedia+1
  • Senior advocate at the Gauhati High Court, with experience in constitutional, criminal and service law. Wikipedia

In sports administration he has* Secretary of Assam Cricket Association he handled constitution revamps and also oversaw the expansion of facilities . Wikipedia

  • He had a pretty big hand in getting 23 cricket grounds and facilities up to speed across Assam, and one of those was the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Wikipedia
  • Before becoming Secretary he was already a Joint Secretary at the BCCI & was a part of the Apex Council.

3. Just how he ended up as the BCCI Secretary

The timeline of all this is actually kind of important for anyone looking into cricket or the BCCI in their google searches

  1. Jay Shah is voted in as ICC Chairman
    • Jay Shah managed to get in as the new ICC Chairman in August 2024 without a fight, his new term starts on 1 December 2024. Wikipedia
    • So Jay Shah gives up his BCCI Secretary post in Dec 2024. Moneycontrol
  2. Saikia gets the interim nod
    • When Jay Shah moved to the ICC he got Devajit Saikia thrown into the mix as acting secretary. Hindustan Times
  3. The election in January 2025 in Mumbai
    • On Jan 12 2025, at the special General meeting in Mumbai Saikia gets elected as the fresh BCCI Secretary with no opposition at all. India Today
    • They also decided on this day to make Prabhtej Singh Bhatia the new BCCI Treasurer. Hindustan Times
  4. He gets re-elected in September 2025
    • Saikia then gets elected again as Secretary at the 94th BCCI AGM which took place in Mumbai in September 2025, re-affirming he’s got the support of all the member units. Wikipedia

So , if you’re doing a Google search on “Who is replacing Jay Shah in BCCI?” – the correct answer to that is Devajit Saikia. He got the nod unopposed on January 12 2025 & was re-elected in September 2025

What Does Devajit Saikia Bring to BCCI as Secretary?

1. Strong link to North East and smaller centres

Saikia’s base is Assam. He has spoken openly about using his role to push cricket in the North East:

  • Recently, as BCCI Secretary, he outlined a roadmap for improving Assam’s cricket infrastructure, including academies and better grounds. The Times of India

This focus matters because:

  • A lot of Indian talent still comes from non-metro regions.

  • The BCCI has often been criticised for being too Mumbai–Delhi centric.

A secretary from Assam naturally shifts some attention to smaller centres and emerging regions.

2. Clear public communication

In just a few months as secretary, Saikia has already had to handle sensitive issues:

  • Denied rumours that BCCI planned to pull out of ACC tournaments to isolate Pakistan, calling such reports incorrect. The Times of India

  • Spoke about sportsmanship after an India–Pakistan handshake controversy in Asia Cup 2025, stressing respect after the game. Navbharat Times

  • Talked about the impact of the Women’s World Cup 2025, saying a win could have the same long-term effect as India’s 1983 World Cup win had on men’s cricket, and pushed for more red-ball matches for women. The Times of India

This shows his style:

  • Address rumours quickly

  • Send clear signals on policy

  • Use his platform to push development in both men’s and women’s cricket

3. Dual hat: BCCI Secretary and ICC Board Director

Saikia is also Board Director at ICC for BCCI. Wikipedia

That means he sits on:

  • The BCCI side of domestic and IPL decisions

  • The ICC side of global scheduling, events, and commercial matters

In simple SEO language:
He is now the key Indian voice at ICC Board level after Jay Shah moved up to become ICC Chairman.

What This Change Means for Indian Cricket

From an SEO and fan perspective, here are the main takeaways:

  • Jay Shah is not leaving cricket.

    • He has moved upwards – from BCCI Secretary to ICC Chairman. Wikipedia

  • Devajit Saikia is the new BCCI Secretary, not a stop-gap name.

    • Elected unopposed in January 2025, re-elected in September 2025. Wikipedia+1

  • The new secretary:

    • Has played first-class cricket (Assam)

    • Is Advocate General of Assam and senior lawyer Wikipedia+1

    • Has administrative experience in state cricket, GSA, and as BCCI Joint Secretary

  • Early signals from him focus on:

Final Summary

So, who is replacing Jay Shah in BCCI?

The new BCCI Secretary is Devajit Saikia – former Assam cricketer, senior advocate, ex-Assam Cricket Association secretary, ex-BCCI joint secretary, now full-time BCCI Secretary and ICC Board Director for India.

Jay Shah’s move to become ICC Chairman has pushed Indian cricket into a phase where:

  • The global game is led from an Indian chair, and

  • The Indian board is run by a secretary with deep roots in state cricket, law, and North East sports administration.

From here, how effectively Saikia converts his experience into stronger domestic structures, fairer calendars, and continued IPL and WPL growth will decide how this “post–Jay Shah BCCI era” is remembered.

But at least one thing is now clear for every search user and fan:

There is no vacuum. The baton has passed — from Jay Shah to Devajit Saikia at BCCI, and from BCCI to ICC for Shah.

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