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Rahul Dravid Honored With BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award, Delivers Emotional Speech
By CricShots - Mar 16, 2026 4:37 pm
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Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid delivered an emotional and reflective speech after receiving the prestigious Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the Board of Control for Cricket in India Naman Awards in New Delhi on March 15. The honour, the highest recognition given by the BCCI, celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Indian cricket. During his speech, Dravid expressed gratitude to the many people who played a role in shaping his journey in the game.

Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid

Dravid began by congratulating India’s men’s and women’s teams that were honoured for their recent achievements, while also praising fellow award winners Roger Binny and Mithali Raj. Speaking about Mithali’s legacy in women’s cricket, Dravid highlighted her lasting influence on younger generations.

“What a fantastic career you’ve had. You’ve inspired so many young boys and girls,” Rahul Dravid said. “So many of the players on this stage today would have been inspired by your excellence, especially your performances in the 2017 World Cup.” Dravid also shared a nostalgic anecdote from his teenage days in Karnataka cricket involving Binny, a member of India’s iconic 1983 Cricket World Cup winning team. “I was a 14 or 15-year-old kid keeping wickets for the Karnataka Ranji Trophy team during practice,” Dravid recalled. “Roger had already won the World Cup then. One day, he asked me where I lived, and when I said it was close to his house in Indiranagar, he offered me a lift.”

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The former India captain laughed while recalling how curious he was during that ride.

“I must have asked him so many questions that he probably regretted letting me into the car,” he said. “It was a Fiat, and for our generation, that was the Ferrari of our time.” Reflecting on the broader growth of Indian cricket, Rahul  Dravid emphasised that the sport’s success has been built on the contributions of many unsung heroes.

“All of us in this room have journeys,” he said. “If we go back to the maidans where we first played, to our first coaches, to the people who umpired those matches or drove us from ground to ground, so many individuals have played a role in bringing Indian cricket to where it is today. This is a celebration of their sacrifices and contributions. All of us owe them a great sense of gratitude.”

Dravid also praised the remarkable expansion of opportunities in Indian cricket over the past three decades, crediting the BCCI for helping players from smaller regions reach the highest level. He then lightened the mood with a humorous remark about the younger players present at the ceremony.

 

“They might have learned a few things from me,” Rahul Dravid joked. “But judging by the way they are dressed, they’ve certainly not learned their sense of dressing from me.”

The former India captain ended his speech by thanking his family, particularly his wife Vijitha and their two sons, for their unwavering support.

“My parents gave me balance in life,” Rahul Dravid said. “They taught me that cricket was important, but there were many other things in life that mattered as well. We talk about marriage being an equal partnership,” he added. “In my case, it probably hasn’t been. You’ve done the heavy lifting and made the sacrifices that allowed me to live the life I’ve been able to live.”

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Reflecting on his long association with the sport, Dravid said he felt deeply grateful. “From the first time I played the Vijay Merchant Trophy in 1987 to today, I’ve been associated with Indian cricket in some way,” he said. “I feel very grateful, very humbled and very honoured.”

Tags BCCICol CK Nayuduhonored BCCILifetime Achievement AwardNaman Awards 2026Rahul Dravidspeech