The Supreme Court of India on Thursday, February 5, officially overturned the long-standing ban of former Cricket Board of India (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur. The decision marks the end of nearly a decade of exile from cricket governance for the BJP MP, who has been expelled from the world’s richest cricket body since early 2017. landscape of Indian cricket as Thakur is now legally eligible to return to the boardroom.
The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, who modified a 2017 cease-and-desist order that effectively froze Thakur from any official involvement with the BCCI. Citing the legal doctrine of proportionality, the court noted that the original restriction was never intended to be a life sentence. The bench noted that Thakur had already served a substantial nine-year “reflection period” away from the administration of the game and had previously offered an unconditional apology for the conduct that led to his removal.
The legal saga initially began on January 2, 2017, when the Supreme Court, then headed by CJI TS Thakur, removed Anurag Thakur from the presidency. The court took a stern view of his alleged opposition to the Lodha Committee’s reforms to bring transparency and accountability to the BCCI. Following allegations of misrepresentation before the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding government interference, Thakur faced contempt and perjury proceedings. While those specific charges were dropped in July 2017 following his apology, the incumbency remained an active obstruction until today’s ruling.
This development paves the way for the veteran administrator to re-enter the space it once dominated. Before his ouster, Thakur was considered a rising star in sports governance, having risen from state-level leadership to the very top of the national board. His tenure was marked by rapid business expansion and infrastructure modernization, although he eventually became embroiled in a high-profile legal battle over the Lodha reforms.
Throughout his career, Anurag Thakur has held several senior positions that have defined his influence in Indian sports. He first rose to prominence as the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) in 2000, spearheading the construction of the iconic Dharamshala Stadium. He later served the BCCI as Joint Secretary (2011–2015) and Secretary (2015–2016) before becoming the youngest BCCI President in 2016. Even during his absence from cricket, his administrative profile continued to grow as he served as the Union Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports from 2041 when he broke the record in Tokyo2 in India. Olympics and Asian Games.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 5, 2026
