The Supreme Court of India on Thursday, February 5, lifted the long-standing ban on former BCCI President Anurag Thakur, bringing an end to his nearly nine-year absence from cricket administration. The ruling allows the BJP Member of Parliament to once again take part in the governance of Indian cricket, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was delivered by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The court modified its earlier 2017 order which had barred Thakur from holding any official position in the BCCI. The Bench stated that the restriction was never intended to be a permanent prohibition and Thakur had already finished his extended time away from cricket administration. The judges also recognized that Thakur had previously apologized without conditions for the actions that led to his removal. The court determined that the ban should no longer be enforced after applying the legal principle of proportionality. Why Anurag Thakur Was Removed in 2017 Anurag Thakur's legal issues started on January 2 2017 when the Supreme Court dismissed him from his position as BCCI President. At that time the court expressed discontent with the BCCI's execution of the Lodha Committee reforms which were designed to enhance transparency and accountability in Indian cricket. Thakur faced accusations of obstructing the reforms and providing false information to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about government involvement in cricket administration. This led to contempt and perjury proceedings against him. The charges against him were dropped in July 2017 after he apologized, but the BCCI post ban remained active until now. Also Read | WPL 2026 Prize Money: How Much Will RCB or DC Earn Compared to IPL Winners? A Veteran Administrator Set for a Possible Comeback Before his removal Anurag Thakur held a position of great power as one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket. He began his journey as President of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association in 2000, where he played a key role in developing the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium. He held the position of BCCI Joint Secretary from 2011 to 2015, then served as Secretary from 2015 to 2016, before becoming the youngest President of the BCCI in 2016. His time at the top saw major commercial growth and infrastructure development, though it also coincided with the legal battle over reforms. Thakur dedicated himself to public service after he finished his cricket career. He worked as Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports during the 2021 to 2024 time frame which included the Tokyo Olympics and Asian Games when India had excellent sports results. With the ban now lifted Anurag Thakur can resume his cricket administration duties which will transform Indian cricket leadership for the future.