Indian cricket is set to celebrate some of its most influential figures as the Board of Control for Cricket in India prepares to host the Naman Awards 2026. The annual awards ceremony will recognise the outstanding achievements of players, coaches and administrators who have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the sport. This year’s edition of the event will honour legendary cricketers Rahul Dravid, Mithali Raj and Roger Binny with lifetime achievement awards, recognising their lasting impact on Indian cricket across multiple generations.
The ceremony will also celebrate the performances of players who delivered exceptional results during the 2024–25 cricket season across international and domestic competitions. With awards spanning multiple categories, the Naman Awards serve as an important platform to acknowledge excellence in Indian cricket, highlighting both established legends and emerging talents who continue to shape the future of the sport.
Rahul Dravid and Roger Binny will be honoured with the prestigious Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest recognitions given by the BCCI. Mithali Raj, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of women’s cricket, will receive the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women.
These honours recognise not only their achievements on the field but also their contributions to the development of cricket in India through leadership, mentorship and administration.
Honouring Legendary Contributions to Indian Cricket
Roger Binny will be recognised for his extensive contributions to Indian cricket across several roles, including player, coach and administrator. A key member of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning team, Binny represented the country in 99 international matches during his playing career. Known for his effective swing bowling and valuable contributions with the bat, he played an important role in India’s early successes on the global stage.
Following his playing career, Binny remained closely involved with the development of Indian cricket. He served as the coach of India’s Under-19 team and guided them to victory in the 2000 ICC Under-19 World Cup. Later, he also served as a national selector between 2012 and 2016, helping shape the next generation of Indian cricket talent.
Most recently, Binny served as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure, Indian cricket experienced continued expansion and organisational growth, strengthening both domestic and international cricket structures.
Rahul Dravid, one of India’s most respected cricketers, will also receive the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. Widely known as “The Wall” for his remarkable batting consistency and resilience, Dravid enjoyed a remarkable international career in which he scored more than 24,000 runs across formats.
Beyond his achievements as a player, Dravid has made major contributions as a mentor and coach. After retiring from international cricket, he played a significant role in developing young players through his work at the National Cricket Academy. Serving as Head of Cricket at the academy, he helped nurture emerging talent that would go on to represent India at the highest level.
Dravid also coached the Indian Under-19 team that won the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup, further demonstrating his ability to guide young players toward success. Later, as head coach of the Indian senior men’s team, he played an instrumental role in strengthening the team’s performance and leading them to victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Mithali Raj will receive the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to women’s cricket in India. Over the course of her illustrious career, Raj established herself as one of the most accomplished batters in the history of the game.
She scored more than ten thousand international runs for India and remains the highest run-scorer in the history of women’s One Day International cricket with 7,805 runs at an impressive average of 50.68. Her achievements helped bring global recognition to Indian women’s cricket and inspired a new generation of players.
Raj also served as captain of the Indian women’s team for many years, guiding the side to two Women’s World Cup finals. Under her leadership, the team developed into a formidable force in international cricket, raising the profile of the women’s game in India and encouraging greater investment and support for female athletes.
Recognising Outstanding Performances Across Cricket
Alongside the lifetime honours, the Naman Awards 2026 will recognise players who delivered exceptional performances during the 2024–25 cricket season. These awards highlight achievements across international cricket, domestic competitions and age-group tournaments.
Shubman Gill will receive the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men), marking the second time he has earned this prestigious recognition. Gill’s consistent performances for the Indian men’s team have established him as one of the leading players of his generation, known for his elegant batting style and ability to perform under pressure.
Smriti Mandhana will receive the Best International Cricketer (Women) award, marking the fifth time she has won the honour during her career. Mandhana has been a central figure in India’s women’s team, consistently delivering strong performances across formats and playing a major role in the team’s success in recent years.
Several domestic cricket performers will also be honoured for their achievements during the season. Shafali Varma will receive recognition as the Best Woman Cricketer in the Senior Domestic One-Day format, while Ira Jadhav will be honoured as the Best Woman Cricketer in domestic competitions.
Harsh Dubey will receive the award for Best All-Rounder in the Ranji Trophy, recognising his significant contributions in India’s premier domestic first-class tournament. Ayush Mhatre will be honoured as the Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions, acknowledging his performances in shorter formats of domestic cricket.
The awards ceremony will also mark a historic moment for Indian cricket by recognising multiple national teams that achieved major tournament victories. For the first time, all five of India’s trophy-winning sides will be honoured together.
These teams include the winners of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, the 2025 Under-19 Women’s World Cup, the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Honouring all these teams together highlights an extraordinary period of success for Indian cricket across different formats and age groups.
The Naman Awards continue to serve as one of the most important celebrations in Indian cricket, acknowledging both the legends who shaped the sport’s history and the emerging players who are carrying the game forward into the future.
