New Delhi: Former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal have been nominated by the Union Sports Ministry as athlete representatives to the proposed Organising Committee for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. Their inclusion is expected to bring the experience of two prominent Indian sporting figures into the planning and governance of the major international event.
The nominations were confirmed by a Sports Ministry source to the Press Trust of India (PTI) on October 30. The proposed committee is expected to have 12 to 15 members and will include representatives from the sporting fraternity, the private sector and the organisations associated with the Commonwealth Games.
The two private-sector recommendations are Jinal Mehta, chairman of Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans, and entrepreneur Ananya Birla, who is associated with the consortium that owns Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who also holds the sports portfolio, is expected to head the organising body. The committee’s formal composition and the precise responsibilities of its members are expected to be announced separately.
Dravid and Saina to represent the sporting fraternity
Rahul Dravid brings extensive experience as an international cricketer, former India captain and national team coach. After retiring from international cricket, he continued to contribute to Indian sport through coaching and athlete-development initiatives.
Dravid guided the Indian men’s team to the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup title during his tenure as head coach. Beyond cricket, he has also been associated with initiatives supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
He joined the Board of Advisors of the GoSports Foundation in 2014 and launched the Rahul Dravid Athlete Mentorship Programme. His involvement in sports development outside his own discipline is among the aspects of his background relevant to the proposed appointment.
Saina Nehwal brings experience from badminton and India’s Olympic movement. She won the bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympics and became one of the country’s most recognised badminton players.
Her Commonwealth Games connection is particularly significant. At the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, she won the women’s singles badminton gold medal, defeating Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo in the final. The victory was one of the memorable moments of India’s campaign at the home Games.
The proposed nominations would place two athletes from different sporting backgrounds in the body responsible for overseeing preparations for the 2030 event.
Private-sector representatives also recommended
Alongside Dravid and Nehwal, the Sports Ministry has recommended two representatives from the corporate sector.
Jinal Mehta, who heads Torrent Pharmaceuticals and serves as chairman of Gujarat Titans, is among the proposed representatives. Ananya Birla, an entrepreneur associated with the consortium that owns Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is the other recommendation.
The inclusion of corporate representatives indicates that the proposed organising structure is intended to bring together sporting experience and private-sector expertise.
The organising company is expected to follow a corporate structure rather than the model used for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Reports have indicated that the proposed body will be registered as a not-for-profit company, with a structure drawing on the approach adopted for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
The proposed committee is expected to include a chairman, vice-chairpersons, a chief executive officer and representatives from Commonwealth Sport, the international governing body for the Games. The Indian Olympic Association and the Commonwealth Games Association of India are also expected to have representation.
Harsh Sanghavi expected to lead preparations
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi is expected to take the lead role in the organising structure. He was actively involved in the state’s efforts during the bidding process and also holds the sports portfolio in the Gujarat government.
The proposed structure is expected to include senior officials from the Union government and representatives of India’s Olympic administration. The Indian Olympic Association is scheduled to hold elections in December, and its representation will form part of the wider organisational arrangements.
Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh has also been mentioned as a representative of the Commonwealth Games Association of India. The final appointments and responsibilities will become clearer when the organising company formally announces its board and leadership.
The committee is expected to have 12 to 15 members. Its role will involve coordinating the planning and delivery of the Games, including the arrangements required to bring together sporting bodies, government agencies and private-sector partners.
Ahmedabad to host the centenary Commonwealth Games
Ahmedabad is scheduled to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will mark 100 years since the first edition of the event was held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.
The 2030 edition is therefore being planned as the centenary Games. India is expected to include between 15 and 17 sporting disciplines in the programme, although the final list of events will be determined through the relevant sporting and organisational processes.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games featured a reduced programme of 10 disciplines because of financial constraints. Several sports popular in India, including hockey, wrestling and cricket, were not part of that edition.
The proposed Ahmedabad programme is expected to be broader. However, the final sports roster and competition arrangements will need to be confirmed by the organisers and Commonwealth Sport.
The return of the Games to India will also place considerable responsibility on the organising body to coordinate venues, athlete accommodation, transport, security, broadcasting and other operational requirements.
Proposed budget and funding arrangements
The operational cost of hosting the Ahmedabad Commonwealth Games has been estimated at around ₹3,000 crore to ₹5,000 crore. The Union Sports Ministry has committed grant-in-aid support of ₹2,000 crore, which is expected to be released as and when the Gujarat government raises funding requirements.
This operational estimate does not include capital expenditure on public infrastructure. Some infrastructure projects are expected to be handled by the state’s urban development department, and public facilities intended for use beyond the Games are not being counted as part of the event’s operational expenditure.
The distinction is important because the overall public investment connected with hosting the Games may include both event-specific costs and longer-term infrastructure development.
The proposed not-for-profit company model is intended to provide a structured framework for managing the event. The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games model has been cited as a reference, while the Comptroller and Auditor General had recommended a different organisational approach following its examination of the 2010 Delhi Games.
A different approach from the 2010 Delhi Games
The proposed Ahmedabad organising structure also marks a departure from the arrangements used for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
The Delhi organising committee was headed by then Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi and was registered as a society. The event subsequently faced serious criticism over its management, with allegations of corruption and financial irregularities drawing considerable scrutiny.
For Ahmedabad 2030, the proposed corporate structure is expected to include athletes and private-sector representatives alongside government and sporting administrators.
The inclusion of Dravid and Nehwal would provide the organising body with perspectives from athletes who have competed at the highest international level. Their experience in cricket and badminton also gives the proposed committee representation from two widely followed sports.
The nominations are an early step in establishing the organisational framework for the centenary Commonwealth Games. The formal announcement of the full committee, confirmation of individual roles and further details of the event’s sporting programme will be important milestones as preparations move forward.