Rahul Dravid, Saina Nehwal Nominated for Ahmedabad 2030 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee

Former India cricket captain and Olympic medallist to represent athletes; Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi likely to head 12–15-member panel, with Ananya Birla and Jinal Mehta among private-sector nominees

Former India cricket captain Rahul Dravid and Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal have been nominated as athlete representatives in the proposed Organising Committee (OC) for the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG), which will be hosted by Ahmedabad.

The Sports Ministry has recommended the two sporting icons for the committee, which is expected to be headed by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who also holds the sports portfolio.

The proposed committee will have 12 to 15 members, with representation from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Commonwealth Sport and the private sector. Jinal Mehta and Ananya Birla have been recommended as private-sector representatives.

"Yes, Rahul Dravid and Saina Nehwal have been nominated to the proposed Organising Committee. Jinal Mehta and Ananya Birla are the two recommendations from the private sector," a Sports Ministry source told media.

Dravid and Saina to Represent Sporting Community

Dravid, one of India's most respected former cricketers, went on to become the national team's head coach after retiring from international cricket. He guided India to victory in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Saina Nehwal, meanwhile, created history by winning a bronze medal in badminton at the 2012 London Olympics. She subsequently retired from professional badminton and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Their nominations are expected to bring representation from India's sporting community to the committee responsible for overseeing preparations for the major international sporting event.

Deputy CM Likely to Lead Organising Committee

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi is expected to head the proposed Organising Committee. The Indian Olympic Association will also have representation, although its elections are scheduled for December.

Lt Gen Harpal Singh is expected to represent the Commonwealth Games Association of India.

Besides the chairman, the committee will include a vice-chairman, a chief executive officer and representatives from Commonwealth Sport, the governing body of the Commonwealth Games.

The organising body is expected to be established as a not-for-profit company, following the model adopted for the successful 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Ananya Birla, Jinal Mehta Among Private-Sector Nominees

The proposed committee will also include representatives from the private sector.

Jinal Mehta, chairman of IPL franchise Gujarat Titans and associated with Torrent Pharmaceuticals, has been recommended for the committee.

Ananya Birla, who is associated with the consortium that owns Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is the other private-sector nominee.

The inclusion of these representatives is expected to bring corporate and organisational experience into the planning and execution of the Games.

Ahmedabad Plans Bigger Commonwealth Games Than Glasgow Edition

Ahmedabad's 2030 Commonwealth Games are expected to be significantly larger in scale than the Glasgow edition held in 2026.

The Glasgow Games were reduced to just 10 sporting disciplines because of financial constraints, with several popular sports, including hockey, wrestling and cricket, left out.

India is planning to include between 15 and 17 disciplines in the Ahmedabad edition, potentially making it a more expansive sporting event.

Ahmedabad secured the hosting rights in November 2025, with the Games expected to take place in October 2030.

₹3,000–5,000 Crore Expected to Be Spent on Games Operations

The operational expenditure for the Ahmedabad Commonwealth Games is estimated at between ₹3,000 crore and ₹5,000 crore.

The Union Sports Ministry has committed a grant-in-aid of ₹2,000 crore, which will be released as and when the Gujarat government raises a demand.

This estimate does not include capital expenditure on additional infrastructure and public facilities being developed by various government departments, including the Urban Development Department.

Such infrastructure costs will be accounted for separately, as the facilities are expected to serve public purposes beyond the Commonwealth Games.

Melbourne Model to Be Followed After Lessons From 2010 Delhi Games

The proposed Organising Committee will function as a not-for-profit company, following the structure adopted for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, which is widely regarded as one of the most successful editions of the event.

The model was also recommended by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) following the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The Delhi organising committee, headed by then Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, was registered as a society and faced widespread criticism over its management, alongside corruption allegations.

The proposed corporate structure for Ahmedabad is intended to provide an organisational framework for managing the scale and financial requirements of the 2030 event.

With preparations expected to gather momentum, the proposed Organising Committee will play a central role in coordinating sporting federations, government agencies, private-sector partners and international sporting bodies for Ahmedabad's Commonwealth Games.