BCCI Naman Awards 2026: Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana Honored as Best International Cricketers
In a grand ceremony held in New Delhi on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the winners of its prestigious Naman Awards for the 2024-2025 season. Prolific batters Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana were named the Best International Cricketers in the men's and women's categories, respectively, recognizing their outstanding performances over the past year.
Shubman Gill Clinches Polly Umrigar Award
Shubman Gill received the coveted Polly Umrigar Award for the Best International Cricketer (Men's), marking his second such honor after first winning it in 2023. Gill enjoyed a stellar 2025, establishing himself as one of India's most dependable batters in the longer formats. His leadership and consistency were on full display during the tour of England, where he captained the team in a five-Test series. Gill finished as the top run-getter with 754 runs in 10 innings at an impressive average of 75.40, including four centuries and a top score of 269.
Additionally, Gill played a pivotal role in India's Champions Trophy triumph last year. Entering the tournament as the world's No. 1-ranked ODI batter, he made an unbeaten 101 against Bangladesh in the opening match and concluded the competition with 188 runs, contributing significantly to the team's success.
Smriti Mandhana Wins Fifth Best Cricketer Award
Smriti Mandhana was honored as the Best International Cricketer (Women's) for the fifth time, underscoring her dominance in the sport. In 2025, Mandhana amassed a remarkable 1,703 international runs, with 1,362 of those coming in ODIs—the most by any woman in a single calendar year. This achievement made her the first batter in women's ODI history to score over 1,000 runs in a calendar year.
Mandhana's contributions were instrumental in India's maiden Women's World Cup title triumph. She aggregated 434 runs in nine matches, finishing as India's leading run-scorer and the second-highest overall in the tournament. Before the World Cup, she showcased her explosive batting by smashing a 50-ball century against Australia in New Delhi, registering the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian batter and surpassing Virat Kohli's previous record of 52 balls.
Lifetime Achievement Awards for Cricket Legends
The BCCI also bestowed its highest honor, the Col C K Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, on former stars Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid, and Mithali Raj. This award recognizes their outstanding service and contributions to Indian cricket over the years, celebrating their enduring legacies in the sport.
The Naman Awards ceremony highlighted the exceptional talent and dedication within Indian cricket, with Gill and Mandhana leading the way as standout performers. Their achievements not only reflect personal excellence but also bolster India's position on the global cricket stage.
