BCCI Announces Annual Awards 2024-25 Winners: Shubman Gill Wins Polly Umrigar Award, Smriti Mandhana Bags Top Honour for Fifth Time – Full List of Naman Awards Recipients

BCCI Announces Annual Awards 2024-25: Celebrating Excellence in Indian Cricket

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has once again honored the stars who shaped Indian cricket during the 2024-25 season through its prestigious Naman Awards ceremony. Held in New Delhi on March 15, 2026, the event, also known as the BCCI annual awards, recognized outstanding performances across international, domestic, junior, and umpiring categories. This year’s highlights included Shubman Gill claiming the coveted Polly Umrigar Award as the Best International Cricketer (Men), Smriti Mandhana securing the Best International Cricketer (Women) for a record fifth time, and lifetime achievement honors for legends Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, and Mithali Raj.

The BCCI announces annual awards event underscores the board’s commitment to nurturing talent from grassroots to the global stage. With India continuing its dominance in world cricket, these recognitions highlight individual brilliance amid team successes.

Shubman Gill: Polly Umrigar Award Winner – Best International Cricketer (Men) 2024-25

Shubman Gill, the elegant right-handed batsman and current India captain in Tests and ODIs, was named the Polly Umrigar Award recipient for amassing 1565 runs in 25 international matches during the 2024-25 season. Gill’s consistent performances across formats solidified his status as one of the modern game’s premier batters. This marks his second Cricketer of the Year title, having previously won in 2023, reflecting his rapid rise and leadership qualities.

Gill’s season was marked by crucial knocks in challenging conditions, including notable contributions in bilateral series and ICC events. His ability to anchor innings while accelerating when needed has made him a cornerstone of India’s batting lineup. Fans and experts alike praised his technique, temperament, and versatility, making him a deserving winner as the BCCI announces annual awards for 2024-25.

Smriti Mandhana: Record Fifth Time Best International Cricketer (Women)

Smriti Mandhana etched her name further into history by winning the Best International Cricketer (Women) award for the fifth time—an unparalleled record in Indian women’s cricket. The stylish left-hander scored an impressive 1800 runs in 36 matches across formats, including a standout 1311 runs in 24 ODIs, where she also topped the run charts.

Mandhana’s season featured elegant strokeplay, match-winning centuries, and consistency under pressure. Her leadership as a senior player in the women’s team and contributions to India’s global campaigns were pivotal. This achievement highlights her enduring excellence and cements her legacy as one of the greatest batters in women’s cricket history.

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Honoring Legends

The Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award—named after India’s first Test captain—was conferred upon two iconic figures:

Rahul Dravid: The “Wall” of Indian cricket, former head coach, and batting legend. Dravid’s contributions as a player (over 24,000 international runs) and coach (guiding India to multiple series victories and nurturing young talent) are legendary. His calm demeanor, technical mastery, and dedication to the game earned him this honor.
Roger Binny: Member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad, where he was the leading wicket-taker. Binny also played in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket triumph. Post-retirement, he coached the U19 team to the 2000 World Cup win, served as a national selector (2012-2016), and was BCCI President from 2022 to 2025. He remains the first Indian to open both batting and bowling in an ODI.

Additionally, Mithali Raj, the iconic former captain of the Indian women’s team, received the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women. Widely regarded as the trailblazer who elevated women’s cricket globally, Raj’s records—including the most international runs by a woman—continue to inspire generations.

Emerging Talents and Debut Honors

Among the rising stars, Harshit Rana earned the Best International Debut (Men) trophy for impressive performances across Test, ODI, and T20I formats in his debut season. On the women’s side, N Sree Charani was awarded Best International Debut (Women) for her stunning 4/12 on T20I debut against England at Nottingham.

These awards spotlight the seamless transition of young talent into international cricket, a hallmark of India’s robust domestic structure.

Domestic and Junior Cricket Stars Shine Bright

The BCCI annual awards also celebrated domestic performers, emphasizing the depth of Indian cricket:

Ranji Trophy Highlights:
Highest Run Getter (Elite): Y V Rathod (Vidarbha) – 960 runs @ 53.33 avg, 5 centuries.
Highest Run Getter (Plate): Snehal Kauthankar (Goa) – 949 runs @ 189.80 avg, 3 centuries.
Highest Wicket-Taker (Elite): Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha) – 69 wickets @ 2.66 econ, 7 five-wicket hauls.
Best All-Rounder (Ranji): Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha) – 476 runs & 69 wickets.
U23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy:
Highest Run Getter (Elite): Macneil H N (Karnataka) – 1037 runs @ 79.77 avg, HS 345.
Highest Wicket-Taker (Elite): Vicky Ostwal (Maharashtra) – 69 wickets @ 2.36 econ, 7 five-wicket hauls.
U19 Cooch Behar Trophy:
Highest Run Getter (Elite): Nitya J Pandya (Baroda) – 881 runs @ 110.13 avg, 4 centuries.
Highest Wicket-Taker (Elite): Hemchudeshan J (Tamil Nadu) – 47 wickets @ 2.61 econ.
U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy:
Highest Run Getter (Elite): Shanthanu Singh (Uttar Pradesh) – 947 runs @ 72.85 avg, HS 270.
Highest Wicket-Taker (Elite): Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh) – 37 wickets @ 1.85 econ.

Women’s domestic awards included Shafali Verma (Best Senior Domestic) for 527 runs and 8 wickets, and Ira Jadhav (Best Junior Domestic) for strong all-format performances.

The Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder went to Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai) in limited-overs and Harsh Dubey in Ranji.

Mumbai Cricket Association won the Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments trophy, securing multiple titles including Irani Cup and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Ulhas Gandhe (Vidarbha) was named Best Umpire in Domestic Cricket.

Women’s international standout Deepti Sharma topped the wickets in ODIs with 37 scalps.

Notably, no Tests were played in certain categories, leading to no awards for Dilip Sardesai highest run-getter/wicket-taker in Tests.

Why the BCCI Annual Awards Matter

The BCCI announces annual awards not just as a ceremony but as motivation for players at all levels. By recognizing domestic grinders alongside international stars, the BCCI ensures a strong pipeline for future teams. The 2024-25 season’s winners reflect India’s balanced growth in men’s and women’s cricket, with emphasis on consistency, debut impact, and lifelong contributions.

As Indian cricket marches forward, these Naman Awards serve as a beacon of excellence. Congratulations to all winners—your achievements inspire the next generation.