Gill set for BCCI Cricketer of the Year as Dravid earns lifetime achievement honour
Gill's recognition despite World Cup snub
Gill captains India in Tests and ODIs but was left out of the T20 World Cup squad that won on home soil earlier this month. That makes the Cricketer of the Year selection an interesting one, given that players like Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah lit up the tournament. But Gill's consistency across formats over the past year, particularly in Test cricket, appears to have earned him the nod.
The 26-year-old scored heavily in the home Test season and anchored India's ODI batting through a busy stretch that included series wins against England and South Africa. Whether or not the selectors wanted him for the World Cup, the BCCI clearly rates his overall contribution highly enough to hand him the top individual prize.
Dravid's second act honoured
Dravid's lifetime achievement award recognises both his 164-Test playing career and his coaching stint that peaked with the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. After stepping down from the coaching role in mid-2024, Dravid has stayed involved in Indian cricket through mentorship and commentary work.
The Col. CK Nayudu Award is the BCCI's highest honour. Previous recipients include Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Kapil Dev. Dravid belongs in that company without question, and if anything the award is overdue for someone who shaped Indian cricket both in the dressing room and from the dugout.
Other awards
Former India women's captain Mithali Raj is also set to receive a lifetime honour at the ceremony. Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre will be handed the Lala Amarnath Award for outstanding all-round performances in domestic limited-overs cricket, while the Mumbai Cricket Association is in line to be named best domestic cricket association.
The ceremony takes place in Delhi on Saturday, March 15.
