Who runs Indian cricket? The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), or the Committee of Administrators (CoA)? Until last week, when the BCCI was instructed to keep the secretary (Amitabh Choudhary) away from convening the selection committee meeting, one could say that cricket in India was run by BCCI and the Supreme Court-appointed CoA, with the latter being involved in major decision-making.

Now, it seems the CoA have all the powers and the office bearers are just there to implement decisions taken. It's a far cry from a time when the Board secretary had all the clout. Probably, no one wielded it more than the late JY Lele from Baroda, who served in that position from 1997-98 to 2000-01. Let me stress that not many grudged Lele his power because he was a tireless, honest worker, who always kept one eye on the pile of expenses. I know for a fact that he preferred taking an evening train out of Mumbai to reach Baroda the next morning rather than a flight. Lele served at a time when the Board didn't have the kind of extravagant wealth it has today and he took pleasure in saving money for the establishment.