The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up for its big annual Naman Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in New Delhi. This time, the event really means something special. It’s a full-on celebration of India’s “Golden Year”, a season where the national teams grabbed five ICC trophies, something that’s never happened before. At the front of the spotlight, you’ve got Shubman Gill, the new leader everyone’s talking about, and Rahul Dravid, the legendary former coach. Both are getting recognised for the way they’ve helped push Indian cricket to the top of the world.
Honouring “The Wall” Rahul Dravid and the “New Era” Captain Shubman Gill
The headline belongs to Rahul Dravid. He’s about to receive the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, making him the first male cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar (2024) to get this honour. Dravid’s legacy is a double punch: not only was he one of the greatest Test batters ever, but he also masterminded India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win as head coach. People credit him for building the foundation of India’s current, fearless run across all formats.
Right up there with Dravid is Shubman Gill, who’s set to pick up the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (2025). It’s the second time he’s won it, and it really seals his spot as one of the modern greats. Since taking over Test and ODI captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Gill has been on fire. He wrapped up the 2025 season as the world’s most productive batter with 1,764 international runs at an average of 49.00, plus a jaw-dropping 754 runs in the Test series against England.
Ayush Mhatre: The Rise of India’s Next All-Round Sensation
Ayush Mhatre just grabbed the spotlight at home, picking up the Lala Amarnath Award for best limited-overs all-rounder. He’s only 18, but this Mumbai kid had a season for the ages in 2025-26. He smashed centuries in all three pro formats, becoming the youngest ever to do it and breaking Rohit Sharma’s record.
But he didn’t just shine at home. Mhatre led the India U19 team to their sixth World Cup in February 2026. He did everything: steady with the bat, dangerous with the ball, and always in the thick of things. Now that CSK has kept him on for IPL 2026, Mhatre’s stepping up to the top level. His rise is just getting started.
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