Rahul Dravid Receives Prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid has been honored with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's annual awards function. In a heartfelt statement, Dravid expressed profound gratitude for this recognition, reflecting on the remarkable opportunities that have defined his illustrious career in cricket.
Dravid's Humble Reflections on a Storied Career
Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, Dravid shared his emotions upon receiving the award. "I'm very grateful for receiving the award. Very grateful for the many opportunities that I've received in my life and the opportunities that I've got," he said. With characteristic humility, Dravid recalled his journey, noting, "I was lucky to have played with some of the greatest cricketers and been lucky to have travelled the world playing for my country. I've been lucky to be involved in the game after I retired as well and very humbled by the opportunities the game has given me."
Praise for Sanju Samson's T20 World Cup Triumph
Dravid also took the opportunity to praise Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament for his match-winning performances in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. "It was really nice to see Sanju be able to sort of get it all together in those final three games — very important games for India," Dravid remarked. He highlighted Samson's perseverance, saying, "For a long time, Sanju has been in and out of the team. He has performed well, he also has had some tough times. It was just really good to see someone like him who's worked pretty hard." Dravid added, "It's really nice to see when it all comes together and the success that he did at such a critical and important phase for Indian cricket."
Samson's Record-Breaking Tournament Performance
Sanju Samson's performance in the T20 World Cup was nothing short of extraordinary. After being drafted into the side following India's loss to South Africa, the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter played just five matches but made a monumental impact. He scored a total of 321 runs, producing three consecutive half-centuries at crucial stages of the tournament.
- He smashed an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in the virtual quarter-final.
- Followed by scores of 89 in both the semi-final against England and the final against New Zealand.
Samson set multiple records during his stellar run:
- Hit 24 sixes — the most in a single T20 World Cup edition.
- Scored 89 in the final, the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final, surpassing Marlon Samuels' 85* in 2016 and Kane Williamson's 85 in 2021.
- His 321-run tally became the highest by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup, overtaking Virat Kohli's 319 runs in 2014.
This recognition of Dravid's lifetime achievements and Samson's recent success underscores the ongoing legacy of excellence in Indian cricket, celebrating both past legends and current stars who continue to inspire fans worldwide.
