February 1, 2025
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) honoured exceptional achievements in Indian cricket at the prestigious Naman Awards on February 1, 2025, in Mumbai. A historic moment of the evening was the presentation of the coveted Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award to Bharat Ratna Mr Sachin Tendulkar, celebrating his unparalleled contributions to Indian cricket over two decades.
The Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledged the cricket legend’s extraordinary 24-year international career where through personal milestones and national triumphs, through challenges and victories, he carried not just his bat but the hopes of an entire nation. It recognised not just a cricketer, but a phenomenon who transformed Indian cricket into a global powerhouse.
For over two decades, Tendulkar’s willow crafted poetry on cricket fields across the world, creating an unprecedented legacy of 100 international centuries and 34,357 international runs. From his debut as a 16-year-old prodigy to becoming the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs, Tendulkar’s journey was one of relentless pursuit of excellence. To this day, he remains the only cricketer to have featured in 200 Tests. His unmatched passion, dedication and skill combined with his humility, grace and dignity cemented his stature as a global sports icon.
For the third time, India’s bowling spearhead Mr Jasprit Bumrah received the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for his stellar performances in 2024. Ranked No.1 in ICC Test rankings, Bumrah picked 71 wickets from 13 Tests in 2024, the highest by any bowler last year. He was named the Player of the Tournament for his 15 wickets at an astonishing average of 8.26 and an economy of just 4.17 as India lifted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Team India’s vice-captain Ms Smriti Mandhana won the Best International Cricketer Award (Women) for the fourth time. Continuing to demonstrate her world-class batting capabilities and leadership, Smriti—who previously won the award in 2017-18, 2020-21, and 2021-22—concluded 2024 with ODI centuries against New Zealand, Australia, and two consecutive centuries against South Africa. The elegant opener accumulated 747 ODI runs at an impressive average of 57.46. She thrived in red-ball cricket as well, registering her second career Test century against Protea Women in Chennai. She was impressive in the shortest format too, amassing 763 runs in 21 innings with eight half-centuries.
The Mumbai Cricket Association received the award for Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments of 2023-24 for having won the Ranji Trophy for a record 42nd time, while also emerging as champions of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, Vijay Merchant Trophy and the Women’s U19 One Day Trophy.
The Board felicitated Mr R. Ashwin, who announced his international retirement after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The champion off-spinner was honoured with a special BCCI Award celebrating his exemplary international career.
