Sugarcane bagasse ash is available in abundance and it has significant pozzolanic reactivity. However, bagasse ash is currently disposed of as a waste in the major sugar-producing countries and its use in industrial-scale blended cement production is highly limited. A systematic review of the potential of bagasse ash for use as a pozzolan in concrete and the translation of the all-inclusive research outcomes from earlier research studies to the industry can enable its wider acceptance. Hence, this study undertakes a comprehensive review on the use of sugarcane bagasse ash in concrete. The physical, chemical and pozzolanic characteristics of sugarcane bagasse ash and their effects on the properties of concrete are reported. The use of bagasse ash is found to result in a notable increment in the compressive and tensile strengths up to 20% replacement. Nevertheless, delay in setting times and reduction in workability are widely reported. The resistance of bagasse ash blended concrete against chloride ion penetration, water permeability and air permeability were also reviewed and a considerable drop in the permeability was reported over the conventional cement concrete. Opportunities for the effective recycling of bagasse ash and their benefits in India, the second-largest sugar producer in the world, are presented. © 2021, Society for Sugar Research & Promotion.