Indian cricket is built not only on the achievements of legendary batters and bowlers but also on the dedication of people who work behind the scenes to nurture talent, strengthen institutions and develop the game. One such figure is Sanjay Jagdale, whose lifelong association with cricket has now been documented in a new book launched by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.
Titled Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket, the book was launched in Indore on October 11, 2026. Written by Kiran Waikar and Sunil Dudhale, it traces Jagdale’s journey from a domestic cricketer to a coach, selector and administrator who served the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
At the launch, Gavaskar praised Jagdale’s contribution to the sport and highlighted the different capacities in which he had served Indian cricket.
But what makes Jagdale’s story worth telling? How did a cricketer who was initially reluctant to enter administration eventually become BCCI secretary? And what can his journey teach young players about serving a sport beyond the boundary ropes?
Let’s explore the remarkable story behind the book.
‘Rag-Rag Mein Cricket’: A Title That Says It All
The title Rag-Rag Mein Cricket translates roughly to “Cricket in Every Vein.” It captures the central theme of Jagdale’s life: a deep and enduring connection to the game.
For many people, cricket is a passion that lasts only as long as their playing careers. For others, it becomes a lifelong commitment that continues through coaching, talent identification, selection and administration.
Jagdale’s journey reflects the second path.
His involvement in cricket extended far beyond his own performances on the field. He worked in different roles within the sport, helping develop the environment in which players could train, compete and improve.
The book brings together these different stages of his life, offering readers a closer look at the people and decisions that contribute to the wider cricketing system.
Here’s a question for cricket fans: When you think about Indian cricket’s success, how often do you consider the administrators, coaches and selectors who help make it possible?
Sunil Gavaskar’s Special Connection With Sanjay Jagdale
The book launch carried a personal dimension because Gavaskar and Jagdale share a friendship that dates back to their school cricket days in 1965.
Their association developed through school and college cricket, domestic competitions and other cricketing encounters. Over the years, their careers took different paths, but their shared connection to the game endured.
Gavaskar became one of India’s most celebrated opening batters and a defining figure in Test cricket. Jagdale continued to contribute through playing, coaching, selection and administration.
At the launch, Gavaskar highlighted the range of roles through which Jagdale had served the sport. His message underlined an important point: you do not have to be a star batter or bowler to make a lasting contribution to cricket.
That idea is particularly relevant in a sport where public attention often focuses on runs, wickets, trophies and individual records.
Behind every successful team is a wider network of people whose work may not always attract the same headlines.
From the Cricket Field to the Administration Room
One of the most compelling parts of Jagdale’s story is his transition from playing cricket to managing and developing the sport.
He represented Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and played 53 first-class matches, according to published reports. His later career took him into coaching, selection and administration.
These roles require different skills.
A player must perform under pressure. A coach must help others improve. A selector must evaluate talent and make difficult choices. An administrator must manage organisations, coordinate stakeholders and help provide the facilities needed for the sport to grow.
Moving between these responsibilities is not easy. Each requires a different perspective and a willingness to understand cricket beyond personal performance.
Jagdale’s career illustrates how experience gained on the field can be carried into other areas of the game.
It also challenges a common assumption: that the most important contributions to sport happen only during a match.
How a Cancelled Match Changed Jagdale’s Career
An unexpected event played a significant role in Jagdale’s move into cricket administration.
According to the book’s author, Kiran Waikar, Jagdale was not initially interested in taking up administrative responsibilities. However, the cancellation of the India-Sri Lanka international match in Indore in 1997 became a turning point that led him to take charge of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association.
What began as an unexpected challenge eventually opened a new chapter in his career.
His work with the MPCA helped establish his role in cricket administration. He later became involved with the BCCI, first as joint secretary and subsequently as secretary. His responsibilities included contributing to the management and development of cricket within these organisations.
The episode offers an important lesson about careers: sometimes, a path we never planned becomes the one through which we make our greatest contribution.
Jagdale’s experience shows how stepping forward during a difficult moment can create opportunities to serve in ways we may not have imagined.
Why Cricket Administrators Matter
Fans naturally celebrate the player who scores a century, the bowler who takes a five-wicket haul or the captain who lifts a trophy. These achievements are visible and easy to remember.
Administration is different. Much of its work happens away from the spotlight.
Cricket administrators help organise competitions, manage resources, coordinate with associations, support facilities and establish systems that allow the sport to function.
Selectors assess players and help identify talent for teams. Coaches work on technique, fitness and mental preparation. Administrators help create the structures through which players can train and compete.
None of these responsibilities guarantees success, but together they form an important part of a functioning cricket ecosystem.
Jagdale’s career brings attention to this less visible side of the sport.
His story also raises a broader question: Can a cricketing legacy be measured only by runs and wickets, or should it also include the opportunities a person creates for others?
What Young Cricketers Can Learn From Jagdale’s Journey
For aspiring cricketers, Rag-Rag Mein Cricket offers a perspective that goes beyond the pursuit of selection for a state or national team.
1. There Is More Than One Way to Serve the Game
Not every talented player becomes an international star. Cricket also needs coaches, selectors, analysts, officials and administrators.
A lasting relationship with the sport can take many forms. Even after a playing career ends, people can continue contributing through experience, guidance and leadership.
2. Experience Can Become a Source of Guidance
Playing cricket provides first-hand knowledge of the pressures and demands athletes face. When combined with coaching or administrative experience, that knowledge can help people better understand what players need to develop.
3. Adaptability Matters
Jagdale’s move into administration followed an unexpected turn in his career. His experience demonstrates the value of accepting responsibility and being willing to learn new skills.
Sometimes, opportunities emerge from situations that initially appear disappointing or difficult.
4. The Work Behind the Scenes Matters
A player’s development depends on more than individual talent. Training facilities, coaching, competitive opportunities and organisational support can all influence progress.
The people who provide these resources may not receive the same recognition as the players, but their work remains important.
5. A Career Can Evolve Without Losing Its Purpose
Jagdale moved through several roles, but cricket remained the common thread. His journey illustrates how professional responsibilities can change while a person’s central passion remains the same.
Why This Book Matters to Indian Cricket
Indian cricket has grown into a major sporting and commercial ecosystem, supported by players, coaches, domestic associations, selectors, administrators and numerous other professionals.
Books documenting the lives of people who work across these areas help preserve the sport’s institutional history.
They also provide a different perspective on familiar cricketing milestones. Instead of focusing only on famous matches or celebrated performances, such accounts can explain how organisations developed, how people entered administration and how decisions were made to support the game.
By documenting Jagdale’s journey, the authors bring attention to a figure whose work spans several important parts of Indian cricket.
The book may also encourage younger readers to explore careers in sports management and administration, fields that are essential to the continued development of cricket.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is the Title of Sanjay Jagdale’s New Book?
The book is titled Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket. It chronicles his journey as a cricketer, coach, selector and cricket administrator.
2. Who Launched the Book?
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar launched the book in Indore on October 11, 2026.
3. Who Wrote Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket?
The book was written by Kiran Waikar and Sunil Dudhale.
4. Who Is Sanjay Jagdale?
Sanjay Jagdale is a former Madhya Pradesh cricketer who later served in coaching, selection and cricket administration. His roles included working with the MPCA and serving as BCCI joint secretary and secretary.
5. Why Is the Book Significant?
The book documents Jagdale’s contributions across different roles in cricket and highlights the importance of people who support the sport beyond their own playing careers.
6. What Does ‘Rag-Rag Mein Cricket’ Mean?
The phrase roughly translates to “Cricket in Every Vein.” It reflects Jagdale’s deep passion for the sport and the central role cricket has played throughout his life.
Final Thoughts: A Cricketing Legacy Beyond the Scoreboard
Sunil Gavaskar’s launch of Sanjay Jagdale: Rag-Rag Mein Cricket celebrates a career built not only around playing the game but also around supporting its wider development.
Jagdale’s journey from domestic cricket to coaching, selection and administration demonstrates that dedication to sport can take many forms. His long friendship with Gavaskar adds a personal dimension to a story that also explores the institutions and people behind Indian cricket.
For fans, the book offers an opportunity to look beyond the scoreboard and recognise the contributions that help sustain the game. For young cricketers, it provides a reminder that even when a playing career ends, there can still be meaningful ways to remain involved.
What do you believe creates a lasting legacy in cricket: extraordinary performances on the field or years of dedication to developing the game and supporting future players?
Share your thoughts in the comments. And if you could read a book about any unsung hero of Indian cricket, who would you choose?
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