New Delhi: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia attributed the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy victory to the sub-committee appointed by the cricket governing body in 2021 to govern the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and the team headed by current BCCI president Mithun Manhas, Brigadier Anil Gupta and Sunil Sethi for their tireless efforts to bring about radical reforms in Jammu and Kashmir cricket.
In an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com, Saikia recalls the thrilling moments of watching J&K lift its maiden Ranji crown and traces the journey from administrative chaos to Paras Dogra lifting the trophy after beating domestic powerhouse Karnataka in the Hubballi final. He sees the emergence of pacer Ochib Nabi as a symbol of the strength of domestic cricket. Saikia also elaborated on the talent identification process, the role of grassroots selectors and why no performer will be overlooked in the current system. Finally, he also shared the latest news on the long-awaited 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule.
extract:
What was your first reaction when you witnessed Johnson & Johnson’s historic win? Does it feel like a fairy tale?
This is a big moment for Indian cricket as well as Jammu and Kashmir cricket. It was an important moment because so much came out of it. Today, every part and every state in the country is the home of cricket under the auspices of BCCI. If you look at the history of BCCI and J&K, you will find that the J&K Cricket Association was in a mess between 2018 and 2020.
A large number of litigations are ongoing in the J&K High Court. In this situation, in June 2021, when Jay Shah was serving as BCCI secretary, the J&K High Court directed that a committee should be formed under the BCCI for the development of cricket in J&K. Jay Shah made a very firm decision and three people laid out the road map. The subcommittee consists of Mithun Manhas, Brigadier General Anil Gupta and Sunil Sethi. This committee works day in and day out under the supervision of BCCI to develop the game of cricket.
Everyone also provided BCCI input. This committee worked very hard and today you see the results. Within five years, they went from being underdogs in Indian cricket to now becoming Ranji Trophy champions. This is a huge leap for J&K cricket. BCCI is also proud of this journey of J&K.
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After the historic win in J&K, will we see world-class facilities coming up in the state?
Notably, J&K does not have such infrastructure to host international matches. But now the time has come. Through their performance, they provide us with a road map. They said BCCI should take a major step for the development of cricket in J&K, especially in the area of infrastructural development.
We have already started work on building an indoor cricket facility in J&K. It’s brewing. But we should also have a proper stadium in J&K. Wherever they decided, land allocations had to be made. This is the call of the times now.
So, today is a big win for Indian cricket. The path is very bright for J&K cricket as well as cricket in India as BCCI’s primary objective is to grow cricket not just at major venues but in every nook and cranny of India. Countries should have proper infrastructure and proper development of cricket so that the boys and girls there have the best opportunity to hone their talents, come into limelight, build their careers and bring glory to the country.
Auqib Nabi took 100 wickets in two seasons with Ranji. Does his success story reflect the importance of domestic cricket and the system set up by the BCCI?
He played well. His contributions are critical to the team’s success. He took five wickets in the quarter-finals, five wickets in the semi-finals and nothing in the final. His spell transformed the final. So, everyone is paying attention to this.
We entrust our selectors to attend every Ranji Trophy match. Our selectors were present during the finals and other matches. I’m sure they’re doing a great job. He is already the center of attention. The selector will answer the call.
BCCI is ready not to let any suitable talent go unnoticed. Everyone must pay attention. When the selectors are on the field, their only focus is on the performance of the players and they do that very well. That’s why so many players from smaller and less well-known places get the chance to represent the national team.
When a player performs well, take Ishan Kishan for example. He has been out of the spotlight for two years. He then performed well and was immediately selected for the Indian team. Now you can see how he has improved and contributed to the team’s success.
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Will BCCI introduce a more centralized scouting system to support talent identification outside of state associations and IPL franchises?
At the central level we only have selectors. When it comes to scouting and other aspects, the franchisees do their jobs. But cricket is basically state-based. Each state has its own team. Therefore, it is based on state structures.
Each state has its own constitution. There are positions for observers and cricket boards and they do the job.
As for Nabi, he is from Baramulla. Who brought him to this position? Selectors in J&K. BCCI electors did not bring him. But when he plays domestic cricket and represents the state team, the BCCI selectors will keep a close eye on the domestic competition. For example, players from Hubli, Karnataka, have to compete at the district level first. He will then enter the ranks of selectors for the regional and national teams.
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When is the IPL schedule expected to be released?
Please wait for two to three days for the IPL schedule. We will publish it as soon as possible. We know it is too late now because elections are going on in three or four states including Assam, Bengal and Tamil Nadu. We are awaiting an announcement from the electoral authorities. We have to take a call within a day or two. After that, we will inform you about the progress of IPL.
