Ranjib Biswal

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 29: Ranjib Biswal, the man who is said to have the Midas’ touch as a cricket administrator, was today appointed as the new IPL chairman at the annual general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Chennai.

Biswal replaced Rajeev Shukla.

The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) president, who holds the credit of “managing” the national side through some of its most memorable victories, including the 2011 World Cup triumph, said: “I am honoured and grateful to the BCCI for giving me the responsibility of such an important committee.”

The 43-year-old edged past former Test cricketer Gundappa Viswanath, Haryana Cricket Association’s Anirudh Chaudhary and even the BCCI interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya to earn the high-profile post.

He, however, dismissed reports of Cricket Association of Bengal’s “objection” to his elevation as BCCI treasurer and that he was awarded with the new appointment because of his proximity to N. Srinivasan, who was elected unopposed as BCCI chief for a third term in office. “I have been given the responsibility because I am man of cricket,” he said.

The cricket fraternity of the state hoped that in his new capacity as the IPL chairman, he would be able to ensure that Odisha would be able to host IPL matches in future.

Biswal, a former Under-19 skipper, who quit the game at 27, has five first-class hundreds and 153 wickets in 41 matches. He was a team selector when Team India led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifted the first Twenty20 World Championship trophy in 2007.

As team manager, his biggest achievement came in April 2011 when India defeated Sri Lanka to win the World Cup at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Soon after, he resigned from the key post.

He was, however, recalled by the BCCI to “manage” the Men in Blue for the Champions Trophy in England following the IPL-6 spot-fixing and betting scandal which rocked Indian cricket.

Biswal, regarded as the team’s lucky mascot, shielded it from controversies. As a result of his good rapport with the senior as well as junior players, he motivated them to win that tournament too.

Biswal is also credited with introducing the Odisha Premier League in 2011 to provide a platform to budding cricketers of the state.

Apart from his role as an able cricket administrator, Biswal is the editor of a local vernacular daily and a full-time member of the Congress party. He is married to Anita Mohanty, the daughter of a Manchester-based NRI doctor.