Rahul Dravid delivered a heartfelt and reflective speech after receiving the prestigious Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI Naman Awards in Delhi on Sunday (March 15), expressing
gratitude to the many people who shaped his journey in Indian cricket.
The award, the highest honour bestowed by the BCCI, recognises outstanding service to Indian cricket. Dravid used the moment not only to reflect on his own journey but also to celebrate the broader cricketing ecosystem that helped build the sport in the country.
He began by congratulating all the men’s and women’s teams that were honoured at the ceremony, praising their recent achievements on the global stage. Dravid also congratulated fellow award recipients, ex-BCCI president and 1983 World Cup winner Roger Binny, and former India women’s captain Mithali Raj.
“What a fantastic career you’ve had. You’ve inspired so many young boys and girls,” Dravid said of Mithali. “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 used the opportunity to share a personal anecdote about his early days in Karnataka cricket and Binny.
“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.”
The teenage Dravid eagerly accepted the offer but admitted he may have tested Binny’s patience during the ride.
“I must have asked him so many questions that he probably regretted letting me into the car,” Dravid said with a laugh. “It was a Fiat, and for our generation, that was the Ferrari of our time.”
Reflecting on his own journey through the sport, Dravid emphasised that Indian cricket’s growth has been driven by countless contributors whose efforts often go unnoticed.
“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.”
He added that the awards ceremony was an opportunity to acknowledge those unsung contributors.
“This is a celebration of their sacrifices and contributions. All of us owe them a great sense of gratitude.”
Dravid also praised the rapid growth of Indian cricket over the past three decades and credited the BCCI for expanding opportunities across the country.
“It’s incredible to see how much the BCCI has grown and how much it has been able to give back to the game,” he said. “Players from smaller regions are now getting opportunities, and that has helped Indian cricket become stronger.”
The former India captain also thanked the many teammates and players he worked with over the years. Looking at some of the younger cricketers present at the ceremony, he joked about their sense of style.
“They might have learned a few things from me,” Dravid said. “But judging by the way they are dressed, they’ve certainly not learned their dressing sense from me.”
Dravid ended his speech by expressing gratitude to his family, including his parents, wife Vijitha and their two sons.
“My parents gave me balance in life,” he said. “They taught me that cricket was important, but there were many other things in life that mattered as well.”
He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by his wife.
“We talk about marriage being an equal partnership,” Dravid said. “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.”
Reflecting on his long association with the sport, Dravid said he felt fortunate to have remained part of Indian cricket for nearly four decades.
“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.”
