'Hope Indian cricket continues to prosper under Anurag Thakur'

Congratulatory messages poured in for Anurag Thakur after he took over as the BCCI President in Mumbai on Sunday with senior players and his board colleagues expressing confidence that Indian cricket would continue to flourish in his tenure.

"Congratulations @ianuragthakur for becoming the @BCCI president.. Best wishes," wrote Harbhajan Singh on his Twitter handle.

All-rounder Yuvraj Singh wrote: "Congratulations to @ianuragthakur for becoming the youngest BCCI president!"

India discard Gautam Gambhir also congratulated Thakur.

"Congrats @ianuragthakur on taking over @bcci president. Go well paaji. Hope Indian cricket continues to prosper."

Former captain and Cricket Association of Bengal chief Sourav Ganguly, who accompanied Thakur for his nomination filing on Saturday, was confident that the sport would only gain under his tenure.

"I am sure he will carry the legacy of the people who have been at that post. He has been around for a while. He knows the job and he will take it forward. Indian cricket I am sure will be looked after well," Ganguly said.

"Every job comes with challenges. I don't think it is a crown of thorns, whether you open against the best fast bowling attack in the world or you are the BCCI President or the Association President," he added.

Not only cricketers but administrators also congratulated the three-time BJP MP.

"Many congratulations to him on behalf of the Board. It's a very big responsibility on his shoulders. Our endeavour is to work as one united family and take cricket forward in India and globally.

"I also thank Shashank Manohar for his tenure as BCCI president and the way he strengthened it. We hope he will continue to be out guiding light. We have full faith in the newly-elected president and secretary and we are sure under their guidance the Board, which is going through tough times, will overcome them with transparency," Scindia said.

However Scindia did not express his opinion on whether these times can be termed as difficult for the Board.

"I don't necessarily think that it's an easy time or tough time. I think it's important that we are transparent, accountable. And I think if we are transparent and accountable I personally don't think any situation is a situation which cannot be overcome.

"Under Anurag Thakur as well as Ajay Shirke I think the Board will rise to the expectations of not only the Lodha Committee or the courts but will also rise to the expectations of 1.3 billion in this country and billions of people across the world."

CAB secretary Avishek Dalmiya also congratulated Thakur.

"Many congratulations to Anurag Thakur on becoming the consensus candidate for the post of BCCI President. While he brings youth at the top, he also has the required experience since he has been associated with the BCCI for over 16 years", said Dalmiya.

Image: Anurag Thakur

Photograph: BCCI