At the esteemed Naman Awards 2026, which are set for Sunday, March 15, 2026, in New Delhi, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will honour brilliance throughout the Indian cricketing spectrum. The yearly event honours those whose achievements have influenced the development and prominence of cricket in the nation while recognising outstanding performances and long-lasting accomplishments in local, international, and age group cricket.

The BCCI’s highest award for exceptional contribution to Indian cricket, the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, will be given to Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid during this year’s celebration.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the development and international recognition of women’s cricket in India, Mithali Raj will be given the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women.

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Binny has contributed to the game for decades as a player, coach, and administrator. He was a notable member of India’s historic 1983 World Cup winning squad. Binny, who finished as the highest wicket taker in the 1983 World Cup and was a key player in one of the most significant periods in Indian cricket’s history, was well-known for his deft seam bowling and priceless ability to make breakthroughs at vital moments. In addition to being a member of the Indian team that won the renowned World Championship of Cricket in 1985, Binny is the first player from India to start both the batting and bowling halves of an ODI.

Binny continued to serve Indian cricket with similar distinction after his playing career ended. He developed young cricket players at the beginning of their professional careers while coaching the Indian Under-19 team, who won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2000. Later, from 2012 to 2016, he was a national selector and was crucial in determining the Indian team’s makeup during a pivotal point in the development of the sport.

Binny has maintained his long-standing affiliation with Indian cricket in an administrative role in recent years. From 2022 to 2025, he presided over the BCCI as its 36th president, leading it through a time of tremendous expansion and international recognition for Indian cricket. The BCCI further solidified its dedication to excellence throughout the cricket ecosystem during his leadership. His commitment to the sport throughout his life is evident in his leadership. The Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award is a worthy homage to a career characterised by loyalty, honesty, and a lasting impact on Indian cricket.

In addition to being one of the best hitters in Indian cricket history, Dravid will be recognised for his enormous impact on the sport as a coach and mentor who helped to establish a new era. Steely resilience, a rock-solid defence, a batting technique right out of the manual, and general mastery were the cornerstones of Dravid’s legendary international career. As a batter and skipper, he amassed over 24,000 international runs, anchored India’s batting lineup across forms for almost ten years, and contributed significantly to many of the team’s most memorable triumphs.

Dravid smoothly moved into a position that influenced Indian cricket’s future after his playing retirement. In his capacity as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), he mentored young cricket players, strengthened India’s player development paths, and contributed to the creation of a strong talent pipeline for the national teams. When he led India’s under-19 squad to victory at the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, his impact was most apparent.

When he became the head coach of the Indian men’s team, his influence only grew. He carried with him the same focus on discipline and clarity of purpose that characterised his playing career. Team India won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup under his leadership. The victory demonstrated the team’s tenacity, readiness, and supremacy on the international scene. Dravid has significantly influenced the current and future of Indian cricket through his leadership throughout the country’s cricketing ecosystem.

The BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women will be given to Mithali Raj, one of the greatest icons of women’s cricket, in honour of her outstanding contribution to the development and international recognition of the sport. With her grace, dependability, and leadership, Raj redefined standards of excellence over the course of an incredible worldwide career spanning more than 20 years. With 7805 runs at an average of 50.68, she was the top run scorer in women’s ODIs. She set standards that changed how women’s cricket was seen in India and encouraged many young girls to take up the game.

Her inspired leadership, which helped India advance to two ICC Women’s World Cup finals and become a powerful force in international cricket, was equally important. Raj has been instrumental in bringing Indian women’s cricket to previously unheard-of heights with her outstanding accomplishments and enduring impact.

During the 2024–25 season, the Naman Awards will also honour exceptional achievements in age group, domestic, and international cricket.

The Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for the 2024–2025 season will be given to India’s Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill, for the second time. For the seventh time in her career, Smriti Mandhana will win the Best International Cricketer (Women) title.

After a successful season with the bat, Mumbai’s Ira Jadhav will be awarded the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Domestic). For the 2024–2025 season, Ms. Shafali Verma of Haryana will receive the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Senior Domestic One Day).

For the 2024–25 season, Mumbai’s Ayush Mhatre will win the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions, while Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey will win the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All Rounder in the Ranji Trophy.

After winning four trophies and placing second in two BCCI domestic tournaments this season, the Mumbai Cricket Association will once again win the Best Performance award.

The recognition of all five Indian teams that have won ICC trophies will be a defining feature of the Naman Awards 2026. For Indian cricket, this will be a historic first. The senior women’s team that won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, the men’s Under 19 team that won the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026, the women’s Under 19 team that won the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2025, and the senior men’s team that won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will all be honoured by the BCCI. This unique acknowledgement honours an exceptional time of achievement for Indian cricket on the international front.