The Board of Control for Cricket in India Naman Awards 2026 turned into a grand celebration of Indian cricket, bringing together some of the biggest names from the men’s, women’s and Under-19 teams. The annual event recognised outstanding performances from the 2024–2025 season while also honouring legendary figures who have shaped Indian cricket over the decades.
Among the biggest highlights of the evening was the recognition of Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana as the Best International Cricketers in the men’s and women’s categories. Gill received the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for the second time in his career, having previously won it in 2023. Mandhana, meanwhile, continued her dominance in women’s cricket by claiming the honour for the fifth time.
The ceremony also paid tribute to some of India’s greatest cricket icons. Former India stars Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid and Mithali Raj were presented with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest recognition given by the BCCI for exceptional contributions to the sport.
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Despite the celebratory mood, the event briefly sparked online discussion when fans spotted a broadcasting error during a live segment. During an on-stage interaction with captains from the Indian teams, women’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on India’s historic victory in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, while T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav spoke about India’s success in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The mistake occurred when Gill was invited to speak about India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy. The on-screen graphics mistakenly labelled him as “Winning Captain, ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” which quickly caught the attention of viewers.
Really???? pic.twitter.com/R0w8hrjFZq
— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) March 15, 2026
— ` (@justrohit45) March 15, 2026
Ye kya Bhai bcci walo kuch to Sharam kar liya Karo gill kab captain tha champion trophy mein winning captain dikha raho champion trophy ka .. wo bol aisa rha hai jaise wahi captain tha… pic.twitter.com/BAW1TpXLiI
— Sudhanshu Rao Chandel Rajput (@qZub76dgqPkCbaj) March 15, 2026
How can you mention him as winning captain
Rohit was captain right?
— RK (@rakkeshrajaram) March 15, 2026
What kind of PR is this ? pic.twitter.com/x3svN62n4p
— . (@edgeandgonee) March 15, 2026
Shubhman Gill, winning captain of ICC Champions trophy 2025 🤣 pic.twitter.com/m07rePcdpx
— Gangadhar (@gangadhar_11) March 15, 2026
In reality, India won the tournament by defeating the New Zealand national cricket team in the final under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Gill was a key member of the squad but was not the captain at the time. He was later appointed India’s ODI skipper ahead of the Australia tour, where senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit played under his leadership.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans on social media trolling the broadcasters for the slip-up. The BCCI later removed the clip from its official social media handle.
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Apart from the awards and viral moments, the evening also celebrated India’s remarkable achievements across formats. Teams that lifted major trophies — including the Champions Trophy, the Women’s ODI World Cup, the Women’s Under-19 World Cup, the Men’s Under-19 World Cup, and the T20 World Cup — were honoured for their historic victories, highlighting a golden phase for Indian cricket.
