Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the organisation that bears all the responsibilities regarding Indian cricket. The BCCI also governs all the cricket related activities in the country. The BCCI was established under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act during 1928-29 and as it is a society, it is allowed to use the government-owned stadiums across the country at a nominal annual rent. The BCCI is the official representative for India in the International Cricket Council (ICC) and it is also authorized for selecting the Indian national cricket team for participating in the international cricket tournaments. The BCCI also enjoy the authority to select the umpires, officials or the other related people while conducting any international cricket in India. In fact, without the consent of the BCCI, no matches involving India can be scheduled either at home or abroad.

History of BCCI
In the year 1911, for the first time, an all India cricket team visited England, which was sponsored and captained by Maharaja of Patiala. The team featured some of the best cricketers of the time. Two representative of Calcutta Cricket Club, in 1926, travelled to London to attend a couple of meetings of Imperial Cricket Conference, predecessor to the current International Cricket Council. Though the two persons were not official representatives, it was allowed to attend by chairman of conference, Lord Harris. The major outcome of meeting was MCC`s decision to send a team to India, led by Authur Gilligan, who had also captained India in the Ashes. The Hindus, as well as the all-India team, performed impressively during this tour.

In the meeting, Indians were praised and were promised to be included in the ICC. On 21st November 1927, an assurance was given on a meeting by delegates from Sindh, Punjab, Delhi, Patiala, United Provinces, Rajputana, Alwar, Gwalior, Bhopal and Central India. It was decided unanimously that a Board of Control for Cricket in India be formed. And it was formally decided on 10th December 1927, that BCCI would represent Indian Cricket.

On December 1928, BCCI was formed with six associate members. R.E. Grant Govan was made its first president and Anthony De Mello its first secretary.

Structure of BCCI
According to the constitution of BCCI, annual elections are held for all posts, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM). For electing the officials of BCCI, the state-level clubs first select their representatives (secretaries), who in turn select the BCCI officials. The BCCI President cannot be re-elected if he has already served two consecutive terms at the helm, "provided that the General Body may in its discretion re-elect the same person as president for the third consecutive year".

The BCCI is actually the amalgamation of various state cricket associations from all over the country like Mumbai Cricket Association, Gujarat Cricket Association etc. A state is also allowed to have more than one member in BCCI. The states of Maharashtra and Gujarat can be taken as an example here, as they are having three members each in BCCI, at the moment. About getting new membership, the constitution of BCCI states that one needs to be introduced by a current member and also to pay an annual fee. Apart from the state cricket bodies, the organisations like Railways and Services are also the members of BCCI.

The BCCI is being considered as the richest cricket board in the world at the moment and is also having the leading corporate houses like Sahara and Nike, as its main sponsors. The other corporate houses like Pepsi; Coca Cola etc have also been the sponsors for BCCI from time to time. The BCCI has the credit of organising the biggest cricket tournament, World Cup twice in the years of 1987 and 1996, successfully. The BCCI organised the World Cup, 2011, along with the cricket boards of the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This was the third time for BCCI to organise the World Cup.

Logo of BCCI
The BCCI logo is derived from the emblem of the Order of the Star of India, India`s highest order of chivalry during the British Raj and also its Coat of Arms.

Membership of BCCI
The BCCI has members from 27 Indian cricket associations across five zones (viz. North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone and Central Zone) in India.

List of BCCI Presidents
1 R.E. Grant Govan
2 Sikandar Hyat Khan
3 Hamidullah Khan
4 Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar
5 P. Subbarayan
6 Anthony S. D`Mello
7 J.C. Mukherji
8 Maharajkumar of Vizianagram
9 Sardar Surjitsingh Majithia
10 R.K. Patel
11 M. A. Chidambaram
12 Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad
13 Z.R. Irani
14 A.N. Ghose
15 P.M. Rungta
16 Ramprakash Mehra
17 M. Chinnaswamy
18 S. K. Wankhede
19 N.K.P. Salve
20 S. Sriraman
21 B.N. Dutt
22 Madhavrao Scindia
23 I.S. Bindra
24 Raj Singh Dungarpur
25 A.C. Muttaiah
26 Jagmohan Dalmiya
27 Ranbir Singh Mahendra
28 Sharad Pawar
29 Shashank Manohar
30 Narayanaswami Srinivasan (Incumbent)

Domestic Cricket Hosted by BCCI
* BCCI Corporate Trophy
* Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
* Irani Trophy
* NKP Salve Challenger Trophy
* Ranji Trophy
* Duleep Trophy
* Vijay Hazare Trophy
* Deodhar Trophy
* Indian Premier League