Former captain and head coach of India Rahul DravidRecently awarded the Col. CK Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award. BCCIAt the annual awards ceremony, he expressed his gratitude for the honor and highlighted the opportunities he has had throughout his cricketing journey. Speaking to Star Sports, Dravid said, “I am very grateful to receive the award. I am very grateful for the many opportunities I have had in my life and the opportunities I have had.”Dravid humbly recalled his career saying, “I was lucky to play with some great cricketers and travel the world playing for my country. I am lucky to be involved in the game even after retirement and humbled by the opportunities the game has given me.”
The former captain also praised. Sanju Samsonwho was adjudged Man of the Tournament for his match-winning performance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. “It’s really nice to see Sanju getting it all together in these last three games – very important games for India,” said Dravid.Highlighting Samson’s tenacity, he said, “For a long time, Sanju has been in and out of the team. He has done well, he has had some tough times. It is great to see someone like him who has worked hard.”“It’s really nice to see when it all comes together and the success it has had at such a critical and important stage for Indian cricket,” added Dravid.Samson’s tournament was nothing short of extraordinary. Playing just five matches after joining the team following India’s loss to South Africa, the 31-year-old scored 321 runs, scoring three consecutive half-centuries at crucial stages. He scored 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.The wicketkeeper-batsman set several records, hitting 24 sixes — the most in a single T20 World Cup edition — and registering 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* for the most runs in 2021-2021. The only T20 World Cup, to leave behind Virat KohliScored 319 runs in 2014.
