Former BCCI president IS Bindra passed away on Sunday at 84. [Source - @bcci/x]Former BCCI president IS Bindra, one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket administration, passed away on Sunday at the age of 84. His death marks the end of an era that quietly reshaped Indian cricket from within the boardrooms.Bindra was not a former cricketer in the spotlight, but an administrator with vision. From television rights to World Cup hosting, his decisions helped Indian cricket find confidence, control and commercial strength at a time when the BCCI was still finding its voice. Serving as BCCI president between 1993 and 1996, and leading the Punjab Cricket Association for decades, IS Bindra left a lasting imprint on how cricket was run, sold and protected in India. How IS Bindra shaped the World Cups of 1987 and 1996 Bindra is best remembered for his role in bringing the 1987 World Cup to the Indian subcontinent. It was the first time cricket’s biggest event moved out of England, changing the balance of power in world cricket forever. Working alongside Jagmohan Dalmiya and N K P Salve, Bindra helped convince the ICC that the subcontinent could host and deliver a global tournament. The success of the Reliance World Cup proved India’s organisational and commercial strength. That momentum continued into the 1996 World Cup, again hosted by the subcontinent. These tournaments did more than crown champions as they placed India firmly at the centre of world cricket, both financially and politically. Breaking the broadcast Monopoly that transformed Indian Cricket One of IS Bindra’s most transformative moves came in 1994, when he approached the Supreme Court to challenge Doordarshan’s monopoly over cricket broadcasting. The verdict opened Indian cricket to private and global broadcasters. With international players like ESPN and TWI entering the market, cricket on television changed forever. Revenues surged, reach expanded, and India soon became the biggest cricket television market in the world. This financial growth strengthened the BCCI’s independence and influence. Indian cricket was no longer dependent on others as it had its own commercial muscle, built largely on foundations laid during IS Bindra’s time. A lasting legacy in Indian Cricket administration Beyond the BCCI, Bindra’s influence was deeply felt in Punjab cricket. As PCA president from the 1970s to 2010s, he developed world-class infrastructure, including the PCA Stadium in Mohali that now proudly bears his name. During Sharad Pawar’s tenure as ICC president, Bindra also served as a principal adviser and played a quiet but influential role in global cricket decisions. His experience and authority helped strengthen India’s voice within the ICC.His career was not without controversy, but his larger contribution remains undeniable. IS Bindra helped wake up a sleeping cricket body and guided it into becoming the most powerful board in the sport today. Indian cricket’s rise as a global superpower owes much to quiet administrators like Bindra. His vision, courage and long-term thinking reshaped the game’s future, leaving behind a legacy that will make an influence far beyond his years.
