Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana were honored as the Best International Cricketers in the men's and women's categories, respectively, at the 2026 BCCI Naman Awards held in New Delhi on March 15. The ceremony celebrated their exceptional contributions during the 2024-2025 season. Gill was presented with the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award, marking the second time he has been named Cricketer of the Year following his initial win in 2023. Meanwhile, Mandhana’s consistent excellence was highlighted as she received the top women's honor for the fifth time in her career.
Smriti Mandhana, Shubman Gill among big winners at BCCI Naman Awards 2026
In addition to celebrating current stars, the BCCI bestowed its highest honor, the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, upon three icons of the game. Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid, and Mithali Raj were all recognised for their legendary service and lasting impact on Indian cricket. Their induction served as a centerpiece for the evening, bridging the gap between the sport's storied history and its successful present.
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His leadership and technical prowess were on full display during the recent tour of England, where he captained the side and topped the scoring charts in the five-Test series. Gill amassed a staggering 754 runs at an average of 75.40, a haul that included four centuries and a career-defining innings of 269. Beyond his success in the red-ball format, Gill was instrumental in India's Champions Trophy victory last year. Entering that tournament as the top-ranked ODI batter in the world, he immediately made his presence felt with an unbeaten 101 in the opening match against Bangladesh. He finished the campaign with a total of 188 runs, proving to be a vital component of the championship-winning squad.
Smriti Mandhana enjoyed a record-breaking 2025, amassing a total of 1,703 international runs. Her dominance was particularly evident in the ODI format, where she racked up 1,362 runs, the highest ever recorded by any woman in a single calendar year. This historic feat also made her the first player in the history of women’s One Day Internationals to surpass the 1,000-run milestone within a one-year period.
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Even before the World Cup began, the left-handed opener signaled her incredible form with a historic performance against Australia in New Delhi. During that match, she reached a century in just 50 deliveries, setting a new record for the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian batter. Remarkably, this achievement surpassed the long-standing national record of 52 balls previously held by Virat Kohli.
List of full winners at BCCI's Naman Awards 2026:
Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Binny.
Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Rahul Dravid.
Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Mithali Raj.
Polly Umrigar Award Best International Cricketer 2024-2025 (Men's): Shubman Gill.
Best International Cricketer 2024-2025 (Women's): Smriti Mandhana.
Best International Debut 2024-2025 (Men's): Harshit Rana.
Best International Debut 2024-2025 (Women's): N Sree Charani.
Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments 2024-2025: Mumbai Cricket Association.
Highest Wickets in One Day Internationals 2024-2025: Women: Deepti Sharma.
Highest Run Getter in One Day Internationals 2024-2025: Women: Smriti Mandhana.
Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder In Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions 2024-2025: Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai)