A leader with a vision and an administrator with conviction – Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya revolutionized Indian Cricket in more ways than one.
His love for cricket was deep-rooted. As a young man, he played for the Rajasthan Club as a wicketkeeper. The gloves came off eventually but the hands that donned it, continued to enrich Indian Cricket, off the field.
Mr. Dalmiya’s career as a cricket administrator kicked off when he was elected as Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Working Committee member from Rajasthan Club. It was the beginning of a long and successful journey that made India the strongest driving force in world cricket.
He served the BCCI as the treasurer in 1983 and was responsible for bringing the Cricket World Cup to India, in 1987. That single move changed the way cricket was followed in the country and Indian Cricket was perceived by the world. Pioneering the successful joint bid, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan, to host the 1996 World Cup, Mr Dalmiya ended the undisputed reign England and Australia held over cricket for over a century.
Besides being a strong leader and an able administrator, Mr. Dalmiya was also a sharp businessman. He saw the opportunities to bring financial strength to Indian Cricket like no one did. He struck a multi-million television deal with World Tel in the early 1990s. With money came improved infrastructure, better amenities at the grassroot levels and financial security to the Indian cricketers.
In 1997, Mr. Dalmiya was unanimously elected as the International Cricket Council (ICC) President. The hub of world cricket moved from the Lord’s to the Eden Gardens. At the end of his three-year reign at the helm of the ICC, India had become the new powerhouse of cricket. He continued to strengthen Indian Cricket as the BCCI President from 2000 to 2004.
After fighting various legal battles for the next several years, he emerged unscathed to become the CAB President in 2008, for a five-year term. In March 2015, he was back at the helm of BCCI, as its President.
By this time, old age and ill health had taken a hold of his life. After suffering a heart-attack, he met a peaceful death on September 20, surrounded by his loved ones. It was apt. The ‘King’ of Indian Cricket heaved his last breath on his throne.
