The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that cricket legends Rahul Dravid and Roger Binny will be honoured with the prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the upcoming BCCI Naman Awards 2026 scheduled to be held on March 15.
Former India women’s captain Mithali Raj will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Women, recognising her remarkable contribution to the growth and global recognition of women’s cricket in India.
Roger Binny’s Historic Contributions
Binny was a key member of India’s historic triumph in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament and played a major role in India lifting the trophy for the first time.
He was also part of the Indian team that won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket. Notably, Binny remains the first Indian cricketer to open both the batting and bowling in the same ODI.
After retiring from international cricket, Binny continued to serve the game in multiple roles. He coached India’s Under-19 team to victory in the 2000 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and later served as a national selector from 2012 to 2016. He also held the position of the 36th President of the BCCI between 2022 and 2025.
Rahul Dravid’s Legendary Career
Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket has been immense. Known for his technically sound batting, he scored more than 24,000 international runs, forming the backbone of India’s batting lineup in Tests and ODIs for over a decade.
As captain, Dravid led India to memorable Test series victories in the West Indies and England.
After retirement, Dravid played a vital role in shaping the future of Indian cricket. As Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy, he mentored young players and helped build a strong pipeline for the national team. He also guided India to victory in the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Later, as head coach of the senior men’s team, Dravid oversaw one of India’s biggest achievements when the team won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Bridgetown, ending a long ICC trophy drought.
Mithali Raj’s Legacy In Women’s Cricket
Mithali Raj is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in the history of women’s cricket. She remains the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, amassing 7,805 runs at an average of 50.68. Her achievements significantly raised the profile of women’s cricket in India and inspired a new generation of players.
Other Major Honours At Naman Awards
The Naman Awards recognise outstanding performances across international, domestic, and age-group cricket in India.
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Shubman Gill will receive the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for the 2024–25 season for the second time.
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Smriti Mandhana will be honoured as Best International Cricketer (Women) for the fifth time in her career.
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Ayush Mhatre will receive the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions.
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Harsh Dubey will win the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder in the Ranji Trophy.
The ceremony will also honour Indian teams that won major ICC titles, including the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup 2025, ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
