BCCI to Felicitate Historic T20 World Cup Champions at Naman Awards 2026
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to honor the Indian national cricket team that made history by winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. This special recognition will take place during the annual Naman Awards 2026, scheduled for Sunday. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav and coached by Gautam Gambhir, India delivered a remarkable campaign to clinch the T20 World Cup title earlier this year.
Historic T20 World Cup Triumph
India achieved a stunning victory over the New Zealand national cricket team by 96 runs in the final held in Ahmedabad on March 8. This win marked several historic milestones for Indian cricket, making the team:
- The first team to win the T20 World Cup three times
- The first side to successfully defend the title
- The first team to win the tournament on home soil
This landmark achievement will be a highlight of the Naman Awards ceremony, celebrating India's dominance in the sport.
Five ICC Title-Winning Teams to Be Honored
In a historic first, the BCCI will felicitate five Indian teams that have recently won ICC trophies. These include:
- The men's T20 World Cup-winning team (2026)
- The women's team that won the ODI World Cup 2025
- The men's team that lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
- The Under-19 men's team that won the U-19 World Cup 2026
- The women's Under-19 team that won the U-19 T20 World Cup 2025
The board has described this as a special moment for Indian cricket, celebrating success across multiple levels of the game and showcasing the depth of talent in the country.
Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana to Receive Top Individual Honors
Among the individual awards, India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will be presented with the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for the 2024-25 season. Meanwhile, star batter Smriti Mandhana will be honored as the Best International Cricketer (Women) for the fifth time in her illustrious career, highlighting her consistent excellence.
Lifetime Honors for Indian Cricket Legends
The ceremony will also pay tribute to some of India's most celebrated cricketers. Former stalwarts Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid will be conferred the Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the BCCI's highest honor. Additionally, former India women's captain Mithali Raj will receive the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women.
Roger Binny, a key member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team, has served the sport in various roles, including coach, selector, and BCCI president between 2022 and 2025. Rahul Dravid, widely regarded as one of India's greatest batters with over 24,000 international runs, played a crucial role in developing young talent and served as head coach when India won the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Domestic Performers to Be Recognized
Several standout performers from India's domestic circuit will also be honored at the ceremony. Ira Jadhav will receive the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Domestic). Shafali Verma will be named Best Woman Cricketer in the Senior Domestic One-Day format. Ayush Mhatre will be awarded the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder in domestic limited-overs competitions, while Harsh Dubey of Vidarbha will win the Best All-Rounder award in the Ranji Trophy.
The Mumbai Cricket Association will be recognized as the best-performing state association in BCCI domestic tournaments, having won four titles and finished runners-up in two competitions during the season.
