‘BCCI Is The Biggest Media Company In The Country'

‘BCCI Is The Biggest Media Company In The Country’

- Simran Sabherwal

AN unwavering focus and a go-getter attitude best describe Rahul Johri, the chief executive of one of the world’s most cash-rich cricketing bodies, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). When he took over the reins of BCCI last year, he was mandated to restructure the working of the board and make it more transparent and corporate like. Eighteen months later, he has not only made the organisation a better place for cricket, but also the biggest media company in the country. The BCCI sold media rights of the India Premier League at a whopping Rs 16,347.50 crore to Star TV.

In an interview with Ruhail Amin, Johri speaks of the historic gains in BCCI’s revenues during his tenure, his immediate priorities for the board and his vision for cricket in India. Edited excerpts:

Tell us about your journey with BCCI so far. 

The journey has been very interesting and challenging. It is a very diverse and a large organisation, and while we are based here (in Mumbai), cricket is played in every nook and corner of the country. To be able to channelise all that is extremely challenging and interesting, but that is what we enjoy.

You are the first BCCI CEO. What challenges did you face in helming the body and setting up new processes? 

The way the BCCI functions is that there is a board and there are multiple committees. For every major compartment, for every major category of decision making, there is a committee.