Rajeev Shukla Could Face BCCI Exit as Age Rule Looms in 2027
Rajeev Shukla‘s position as BCCI vice-president is in jeopardy because he will turn 70 in July 2027, putting him squarely in contradiction with the board’s constitutional age disqualification requirement, according to The Telegraph online. The doubt has emerged ahead of the BCCI’s annual general meeting, which is set for September 18, 2026, in Mumbai.
He was voted unopposed as BCCI vice-president on December 18, 2020, under the board’s new constitution, and will soon complete his six-year term.
To add to the complication, the constitution mandates him to enter a three-year cooling-off period in December 2026, creating a further layer of doubt over his continued tenure.
Rajeev Shukla does not appear on the draft electoral roll for the September 18 annual general meeting. Electoral officer AK Joti has issued a notice for elections to two positions on the IPL governing council under Rule 28 of the constitution, but no notification has been made for the BCCI vice-president position.
There are many versions circulating among Board members about how his term would be managed, and no official clarification has emerged.
What does the BCCI constitution say about age limits?
The BCCI constitution is clear on the issue of age eligibility for office bearers. Rule 6(5)(b) of the constitution specifies the disqualification conditions in detail, and the 70-year barrier has already been applied to other senior officials in previous years.
According to Rule 6(5)(b), “a person shall be disqualified from being an office bearer, a member of the apex council, governing council or any committee of the BCCI if he or she has attained the age of 70 years.”
The regulation has precedent. Brijesh Patel turned 70 in November 2022, but he had to step down as IPL chairman in September 2022 before he could celebrate.
More recently, Roger Binny turned 70 in July 2025, and the BCCI operated with Shukla as interim president for about two months. Both cases demonstrate that the board has consistently enforced the age cap when it became due.
What happens next with Rajeev Shukla and the vice-president’s position?
The BCCI is still to decide whether Rajeev Shukla would be allowed to stay in his job until July 2027, when he will be 70 years old, or whether he will be replaced sooner.
There are conflicting accounts inside Board circles, and no formal position has been taken publicly on the subject. It is crucial to highlight Rajeev Shukla enthusiasm for and dedication to Indian cricket.
The lack of an election notification for the vice-president’s position prior to the September 18 annual general meeting adds to the ambiguity.
It is unclear whether the board intends to handle the vacancy at this meeting or defer it to a later date. The BCCI has not verified the specific timing or process for any transfer.
