BCCI Naman Awards 2026: Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana Win Top Honors

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organized the prestigious 'Naman Awards 2026' at a grand ceremony in New Delhi. The annual event serves as a platform to recognize and reward the outstanding achievements of Indian cricketers across international, domestic, and age-group levels. This year's ceremony celebrated the brilliance of current stars while honoring the legacy of former greats who have shaped the sport in the country.

The highlight of the evening was the dominance of Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana, who secured the top individual honors for their consistent performances. According to officials, the awards reflect the statistical excellence and impact these players had during the 2024-25 season.

Lifetime Achievement Honors for Dravid, Binny, and Mithali Raj

The BCCI conferred the Col. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award upon three stalwarts of Indian cricket: Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, and Mithali Raj. Rahul Dravid, the former captain and head coach, was recognized for his immense contribution to the game's development. Roger Binny, a 1983 World Cup winner and former BCCI President, was honored for his decades-long service. Mithali Raj, the highest run-getter in women's international cricket, received the award for her role in elevating the status of women's cricket in India. These awards represent the highest honor bestowed by the board for career-long dedication.

Top International Honors for Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana

Shubman Gill was awarded the Polly Umrigar Award for the Best International Cricketer (Men) for the 2024-25 season. Gill's prolific run-scoring across formats, particularly in Tests and ODIs, earned him the top spot. In the women's category, Smriti Mandhana was named the Best International Cricketer. This marks the fifth time Mandhana has received this prestigious award, highlighting her status as a cornerstone of the Indian batting lineup, while she was also recognized as the highest run-getter in Women's ODIs for the same period, further cementing her dominance in the international circuit.

Recognition for Debutants and Domestic Stars

The ceremony also focused on emerging talent, with Harshit Rana winning the award for the Best International Debut (Men), while despite missing the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 victory due to an injury sustained during the New Zealand series, Rana's early impact was acknowledged. In the women's section, Shri Charani was named the Best International Debutant. On top of that, star all-rounder Deepti Sharma was honored for taking the most wickets for the Indian women's team in the 2024-25 season. The board also recognized Ulhas Gandhe as the Best Umpire in domestic cricket for the 2023-24 season.

Comprehensive List of Domestic and Age-Group Winners

The Mumbai Cricket Association was recognized as the Best Performing State Association for the 2024-25 season. In the domestic circuit, Ayush Mhatre received the Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-rounder in limited-overs cricket, while Harsh Dubey won the same for the Ranji Trophy, while the Madhavrao Scindia Awards for the highest run-getters and wicket-takers in the Ranji Trophy were presented to Yash Rathod, Snehal Kauthankar, Harsh Dubey, and Suchit J. These awards highlight the depth of talent in India's domestic structure.

Junior and Youth Cricket Excellence

The Jagmohan Dalmia Trophy for the Best Junior Women's Cricketer was awarded to Ira Jadhav, while Shafali Verma was named the Best Senior Domestic Women's Cricketer. In the U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Yashvardhan Singh Chauhan and Shantanu Singh topped the charts in the Elite Group. The U19 Cooch Behar Trophy saw Nitya J Pandya and Hemchudeshan J receiving top honors. K. Nayudu Trophy, Vicky Ostwal and McNeil H N were recognized for their exceptional performances, ensuring that the future of Indian cricket remains in capable hands.