At the NDTV Indian of the Year 2025, Jay Shah was honoured with the ‘Transformational Leader of the Year’ award for his far-reaching contribution to Indian and world cricket. The recognition comes as an acknowledgment of the sweeping reforms he led during his tenure as Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) between 2019 and 2024, reforms whose impact continues to shape the game today.
Recognition at NDTV Indian of the Year 2025
- While receiving the award, Jay Shah spoke candidly about the challenges faced during his tenure.
- Especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the immediate focus was on restarting the IPL and stabilising cricket operations.
- He recalled how, after being re-elected in 2022, he made it clear that “the injustice to women players would stop” a promise that translated into concrete policy changes.
Key Reforms That Defined His Tenure
- Jay Shah’s time at the BCCI is widely regarded as one of the most transformative phases in Indian cricket administration.
- One of his most significant contributions was the introduction of pay parity between men’s and women’s cricketers.
- Under this reform, match fees for women players were increased manifold, ending long-standing disparities.
- Women cricketers now earn ₹6 lakh per ODI, ₹3 lakh per T20I, and ₹15 lakh per Test compared to much lower amounts earlier.
- Another landmark reform was the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
IPL Media Rights and Commercial Expansion
- Jay Shah also played a pivotal role in reshaping the commercial structure of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
- Under his leadership, IPL media rights deals reached record-breaking valuations, with a strategic split between broadcast and digital rights that maximised revenue and expanded the league’s global footprint.
- These decisions significantly strengthened the BCCI’s financial position, enabling greater investment in domestic cricket infrastructure, player welfare, and grassroots development.
Key Takeaways
- Jay Shah received the ‘Transformational Leader of the Year’ award at NDTV Indian of the Year 2025.
- He served as BCCI Secretary from 2019 to 2024 and became ICC Chairman in December 2024.
- Major reforms under his tenure include pay parity, launch of WPL, and record IPL media rights deals.
- Women cricketers’ match fees increased sharply across formats.
Question
Q. At the NDTV Indian of the Year 2025, Jay Shah was honoured with which award?
A. Sports Icon of the Year
B. Transformational Leader of the Year
C. Lifetime Achievement Award
D. Young Achiever Award
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