Former India head coach Rahul Dravid expressed gratitude after being presented with the Lifetime Achievement honour at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026, saying he felt privileged to be recognised alongside some of the game’s greatest icons. Dravid, along with former BCCI president Roger Binny, received the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, while Mithali Raj was conferred the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women at the ceremony held on Sunday in New Delhi.
The annual BCCI Naman Awards celebrate outstanding performances and long-term contributions across international, domestic and age-group cricket, while also recognising individuals who have played a vital role in shaping the sport’s growth and standing in the country.
The Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award represents the highest distinction granted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to former Indian players in recognition of their exceptional contribution to cricket.
Dravid said the honour carried special meaning for him as several legendary figures who inspired him during his career as both a cricketer and coach had previously received the award.
“I am very grateful to receive this award. I mean, follow the earlier recipients of this award, you know, are some of the greatest legends of the game in our country. It’s really people I have looked up to, I have admired, have been great inspirations to me as a player and as a coach and all the other things that I’ve been involved in Indian cricket,” Dravid said.
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He added that the recognition was deeply humbling and symbolised his long association with the sport, which began in his youth at the age-group level.
“So, it’s a great privilege, it’s very grateful for that honour, very humbled, and I think, you know, very appreciative of the fact that I’ve been able to be involved in Indian cricket for such a long time. Since the time I was a young boy, probably playing under 15 cricket for the first time, to today, and very grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had,” he said.
Dravid also spoke about the importance of continuity in Indian cricket, explaining that he viewed his role as building upon the foundations laid by earlier generations.
“I think that I’ve always just seen my role as just carrying a torch. I carried a torch from an earlier generation, whether I was a player or a coach. I have just built on the good work that other people have done. I have had my time when I’ve had the opportunity to contribute and do the best that I can,” the Indian legend added.
He further praised the current generation of players and administrators for continuing to advance the legacy and achieve success at the highest level.
“I’m very proud and grateful to see the way the next generation continues to carry that on, and the kind of successes that we have had are a great credit to the current management, the current team and everyone involved with Indian cricket. So we all have our time in the game, and we have to do our bit, and I’ve tried to do the best that I can, and I’ve been inspired by generations before me, and it’s just amazing to see that generations ahead of us continue to, in fact, take it to another level,” Dravid said.
Dravid was recognised for his significant contribution to Indian cricket as both a distinguished batter and a successful coach. During his international career, he accumulated more than 24,000 runs and formed the backbone of India’s batting lineup for over a decade, playing key roles in several historic victories as a player and captain.
Following his retirement, Dravid contributed to the development of future talent through his work at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where he strengthened pathways for young players and guided India’s U-19 side to the ICC U-19 World Cup title in 2018. Later, as head coach of the Indian men’s team, he oversaw India’s triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, further reinforcing his enduring influence on the game.
