As the sun set over Wankhede Stadium on nomination day, seven potential challengers withdrew their candidatures, leaving Ajinkya Naik to walk into his second term unopposed. The Mumbai Cricket Association elections thus became a referendum on continuity, camaraderie and the politics of cricket.
When Amol Kale died unexpectedly in July 2024, Naik stormed into office, promising to work towards each and every player, each and every club, and the bright future of Mumbai cricket. This election was his platform to reiterate that statement.
Mumbai Cricket Association elections: Unopposed victory
The drama of the MCA elections lay less in the contest and more in the alliances that preceded it. A joint panel by Sharad Pawar and Ashish Shelar — often referred to as the Pawar-Shelar group — persuaded Maharashtra’s chief minister and Fadnavis aide Prasad Lad to withdraw his bid.
In return, Ajinkya Naik stood unopposed, and their combined slate swept 12 of 16 posts.
Key highlights from the MCA poll results:
Post | Winner | Votes (where available) |
President | Ajinkya Naik (unopposed) | N/A (walkover) |
Secretary | Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar beat Shahalam Shaikh 227-129 | 227-129 |
Vice-President | Jitendra Awhad defeated Navin Shetty 201-155 | 201-155 |
Joint Secretary | Nilesh Bhosale edged Gaurav Payyade 228-128 | 228-128 |
Treasurer | Arman Mallick retained his post 234-119 | 234-119 |
Apex Council Members | Sandeep Vichare, Suraj Samat, Vignesh Kadam, Milind Narvekar, Bhushan Patil, Nadim Memon, Vikas Repale, Pramod Yadav, Neil Savant | Not specified |
The Mumbai Cricket Association elections were shaped by political heavyweights. Veteran administrator Sharad Pawar, a former president of the ICC, BCCI, and MCA, wielded his influence behind the scenes.
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His pact with Ashish Shelar, a cabinet minister and prominent BJP leader, neutralised competing slates and united Maidan clubs under one banner. The result was a foregone conclusion: the Mumbai Cricket Association elections ended in an uncontested presidential victory and a resounding endorsement of the Pawar-Shelar alliance, a fact underscored by a 12-out-of-16 seat haul.
Glad and extremely honoured to win MCA Elections held today for the position of Apex Councillor. Greatful to newly elected President @ajinkyasnaik and all panel candidates who have won today. Thankful to all designated voters of MCA who voted and bestowed their valuable faith in… pic.twitter.com/qYulkj522d
— Bhushan Patil (@bhushankpatil12) November 12, 2025
For Naik, the unopposed result was both a triumph and a continuation. He has served the association in various roles — as an apex council member (2019-22), secretary (2022-24), and president since July 2024. During his previous term, he unveiled the Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum and erected statues of Sunil Gavaskar and Sharad.
He now plans to immortalise Dilip Vengsarkar at the Wankhede Stadium. “My heart lies in Maidan cricket,” he told reporters, promising to push reforms and player development.
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MCA election results
The elections in the Mumbai Cricket Association were an interesting experiment in the way politics becomes entrenched in cricket administration. The move by Sharad Pawar to take sides with Ajinkya Naik, in agreement with Ashish Shelar, gave Sharad Pawar the upper hand in the apex council.
There was an insider revelation that Pawar had met with the chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, to ensure Naik a smooth sailing, and the two factions buried the hatchet to come up with a list. The alliance was strong as four out of five of the candidates of the Shelar camp secured seats.
The final results also highlighted the involvement of past players and prominent political figures. Of the 375 eligible voters, 362 cast their ballots at Wankhede; the roll call included cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Diana Edulji, along with politicians Aditya Thackeray, Ramdas Athawale, and Nana Patole.
Their presence underlined how the contest transcends sport and draws the city’s who’s who. Reactions poured in immediately. Naik dedicated the victory to “our maidan clubs, secretaries and every cricketer — men and women,” and credited Fadnavis, Sharad Pawar and Ashish Shelar for making it possible.
Future Outlook for Mumbai Cricket
Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar, with a six-year break, was elected secretary and promised to make Mumbai cricket a force to reckon with. The new vice-president, Jitendra Awhad, said that he had fulfilled his dream by receiving the appointment and took pride in his mentorship under Pawar.
The future is now in view since the immediate tally is settled. Naik needs to find a way around the obligatory cool-off period imposed by the Lodha reforms: he has already served six consecutive years in the MCA administration and is legally required to take a three-year break.
The way the association accommodates the rules of governance and continuity will determine the future. The synergy between Pawar and Shelar hints at stability, but the Mumbai Cricket Association elections also exposed the fragility of democratic competition: a strong alliance can leave little room for alternative voices.
The success of the Mumbai Cricket Association elections will ultimately be measured by what Naik and his team deliver. His past initiatives — museums, statues and outreach to Maidan clubs — suggest a penchant for heritage and grassroots cricket.
Amit Mishra’s Thoughts
Ajinkya Naik was reelected comfortably to his second term in the Mumbai Cricket Association elections, with no contenders against him. His panel, consisting of Sharad Pawar and Ashish Shelar, held 12 of the 16 posts, and some of the most important offices were allocated to his close associates.
It was the politics of alliances, not ballots, that made the 2009 election a real drama, and the following chapter will determine whether this unity translates into progress.
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FAQs
- Who won the Mumbai Cricket Association elections?
Ajinkya Naik was elected unopposed as president, and his Pawar-Shelar panel captured most positions. - What were the key MCA election results beyond the presidency?
The contests delivered victories for Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar (secretary), Jitendra Awhad (vice-president), Nilesh Bhosale (joint secretary) and Arman Mallick (treasurer). - How did Ashish Shelar influence the MCA elections?
As a key ally of Sharad Pawar, Ashish Shelar joined forces with him to back Ajinkya Naik, helping the Pawar-Shelar slate win 12 of 16 posts in the contest. - What role did Sharad Pawar play in the election?
Alliances were engineered and enemies convinced to back off by former ICC and BCCI chief Sharad who saw Ajinkya Naik win the contest unopposed and his camp dominate the contest. - Why were the 2025 Mumbai Cricket Association elections unopposed?
A number of nominations by the politicians and former cricketers were withdrawn before the deadline. The election was over with no contest since only Ajinkya Naik remained on the field
