SRINAGAR, OCT 3: BCCI Chairman Mithun Manhas on Saturday hailed India’s latest title triumph, describing the team’s performance as a display of composure, collective strength and resilience under pressure, and said the victory should be dedicated to millions of supporters as well as soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service of the nation.
Speaking in Srinagar after India’s successful campaign, Manhas described India as “by far the best team of the tournament” and said the achievement was a moment for the entire country to celebrate. He particularly highlighted India’s victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, while praising the players for handling the pressure associated with the high-profile contest.
“It’s a big day of happiness and the whole country should celebrate,” Manhas said, while acknowledging the contribution of former BCCI Secretary and incumbent ICC Chairman Jay Shah to the development of Indian cricket.
Manhas pointed out that the progress under the BCCI’s broader cricketing structure was not confined to the men’s team, noting that the Indian women’s team had also secured a World Cup triumph. He said the achievements reflected the depth and growing strength of Indian cricket across formats and teams.
The BCCI chief also welcomed the expanding international footprint of cricket, particularly its inclusion in major multi-sport events such as the Asian Games. He said the increasing participation of countries in cricket was a positive development for the sport and would help strengthen its global presence.
Reflecting on the significance of India’s latest title, Manhas said the achievement belonged to supporters as much as it did to the players.
“It is a very happy day. As happy as you are, I am equally happy and the whole country is happy,” he said, adding that the victory should be dedicated to the millions of fans who continuously support and pray for the Indian team, as well as soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Manhas said the emotional connection between the Indian team and its supporters remained one of the defining features of the sport, with victories carrying significance far beyond the boundary ropes.
Assessing India’s batting display, the BCCI chairman singled out Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma for their contributions but stressed that the result was ultimately the product of a collective team effort.
“This is a team sport,” Manhas said, noting that the opening partnership had helped establish the platform before the middle order completed the task.
He also praised India’s bowling unit for working collectively to defend the total, underlining the importance of contributions across departments rather than dependence on individual performances.
Speaking from Kashmir, Manhas placed particular emphasis on the growing contribution of Jammu and Kashmir to Indian cricket, pointing to the emergence of players from the region.
He specifically referred to Aaqib Nabi from Baramulla, recalling his earlier comments about the youngster’s journey and the hard work involved in reaching the national-level setup.
Manhas said the BCCI had extended full support to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and would continue working towards strengthening cricket infrastructure and opportunities in the region.
“We want cricket to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and we want more and more players to emerge,” he said.
He pointed to the ongoing cricket competition involving J&K as evidence of the improvement in the region’s cricketing standards, saying the rise in competitiveness demonstrated the potential available among local players.
Manhas said Jammu and Kashmir possesses considerable cricketing talent but stressed that sustained nurturing and institutional backing would be essential to convert potential into high-level performers.
“You can see how the level of J&K cricket has gone up,” he said, expressing hope that more players would emerge in the coming years.
He said the region had a strong pool of talent that needed to be identified, nurtured and provided with the necessary opportunities and support.
The BCCI chairman’s remarks underline the growing focus on expanding cricket beyond established centres, with Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh emerging as important regions in the board’s wider effort to identify and develop the next generation of Indian cricketers.
