At a time when Indian cricket is reaching new heights at the global level, the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, shares insights into the systems that drive this continued success. In a chat with TOI, Shukla spoke about the depth of India’s talent pool, the role of structured domestic platforms, and the impact of leagues like the League. IPL. Quotes:
Question: Indian cricket has been at an all-time high in recent years, having won multiple World Cups. What are the main reasons behind this success?The success of Indian cricket rests on the strength of its vast talent pool. Today, for each position, we have 4-5 equally capable players, ensuring depth and healthy competition. There is a strong focus on grassroots development, where young talent is identified and nurtured early. The high-performance ecosystem, including the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, plays an important role not only in training but also in injury management and athlete longevity. Organized tournaments for all age groups — men and women — ensure continuous exposure and growth. Platforms like IPL and WPL have further accelerated this growth by providing world-class exposure.Q: There has been a demand for four UP teams in domestic cricket. What is your theory?The matter follows the Supreme Court’s directives, which clearly state that a state can have only one team, with limited historical exceptions like Gujarat and Maharashtra. Therefore, under the current framework, Uttar Pradesh cannot have multiple teams unless the state is bifurcated. However, an effective alternative is to create high-quality competitive platforms that provide wider exposure. Initiatives such as a professionally structured T20 league with six teams have enabled the participation of more than 200 players, giving them opportunities for global visibility and high recognition.Q: How do you see Indian cricket progressing from here?Indian cricket is set to go from strength to strength. With continued investment in infrastructure, player development, and sports science, along with early exposure and professional training, the pipeline of talent will improve. This system ensures that players are well prepared from a young age. With a constant focus on nurturing talent, Indian cricket will scale new heights at the global level.Q: Do you think the Chief Selector? Ajit Agarkar Should the 2027 World Cup continue?Such decisions rest with the BCCI management. These are well-timed collective calls keeping in mind the wider interests of Indian cricket. The Board will consider this in due course.Question: Are you satisfied with UP’s performance in domestic cricket recently?We are very encouraged by the growth of Uttar Pradesh Cricket. The primary role of a state association is to produce players who can represent the national team and give the state international recognition. UP continues to contribute talent at a high level. In white-ball cricket, the team has shown exceptional form, including an impressive run of seven consecutive victories against some of the strongest teams in the state in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. A platform like the UP T20 League has significantly strengthened the pipeline of talent. We have around 18 players from UP in the teams playing in IPL.
