BCCI Naman AwardHeld in New Delhi on 15 March, it was much more than a formal recognition of cricket excellence; It was a lively celebration of a historic year for Indian cricket. Where after a great season India Achieved many ICC titles including Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and this Women’s ODI World Cup 2025The festive atmosphere was electric.
The evening served as a bridge between generations, honoring legends such as Rahul Dravid And Mithali Raj Shedding light on the meteoric rise of young stars. However, amidst the glitz of the trophies and the seriousness of the speeches, one segment grabbed the headlines for its charm and humour: a high-energy rapid-fire round conducted by the ‘Voice of Cricket’. Harsha Bhogle.
Delightful rapid-fire performances from Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya and Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Undoubtedly the highlight of the informal segments was when Bhogle invited Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandyaand 14 year old feeling Vaibhav Suryavanshi On stage for a rapid-fire session. The players put aside their competitive intensity, giving fans a rare glimpse into their personal lives and childhood inspirations.
When asked about their cricketing idols, the answers reflected a wide variety of influences. Abhishek Sharma did not hesitate to tell the name of his teacher Yuvraj SinghWhereas sanju samson stay true to your roots Sachin Tendulkar. In a classic funny twist, hardik pandya eponymous household legend Wasim Jafferwhile young Vaibhav Suryavanshi demonstrated a wide palate, citing both brian lara And Yuvraj Singh.
The conversation turned to nostalgia with questions about his first video game. While Abhishek remembered the classic EA Sports’ Cricket 07 and Sanju remembered the open-world chaos of GTA Vice City, Hardik revealed that he was a WWE fan. Proving that he is indeed a different breed of modern teen, Vaibhav simply said, “Sir, I don’t play video games,” Enthusiasm of the audience.
The humor continued as they discussed their first vehicles. Abhishek started off with a Honda Activa, and Sanju missed his Maruti Wagon R. Hardik, who is today known for his luxury car collection, shared that his journey started with a Maruti 800. Meanwhile, Vaibhav, who is still too young to drive, admits that he has not bought anything yet.
The most surprising revelation came from Samson; When asked about the first match he watched at the stadium, he confessed, “I think it was an IPL game I was a part of. I never went to the stadium to watch the match [as a fan]” To wrap it up, players shared their cinematic tastes ranging from their devotion to Sanju supper star Rajinikanth For Hardik’s strange passion Godzilla, Abhishek’s 3 idiots and Vaibhav’s Dunderdhar.
Here is the video:
The Champions answer some quick questions! ✓
first game? First vehicle? Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Suryavanshi! 🙌 #namanaward pic.twitter.com/pj9KDOma68
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 15 March 2026
Also read: From Rahul Dravid to Shubman Gill: BCCI releases list of Naman awards winners
Major awards distribution at BCCI Naman Awards
While the rapid-fire rounds provided laughs, the core of the awards was the celebration of record-breaking performances in the 2024-25 season.
Shubman Gill He was the best man at that time, taking second place Polly Umrigar Award For Best International Cricketer (Male). The Indian Test and ODI captain enjoyed a brilliant 2025, scoring 1,764 runs across all formats. His dominance in red-ball cricket was the talk of the night, particularly his innings of 754 runs in the five-Test series against England, where he recorded an average of 75.40 and a career-best 269 runs.
From women’s side, Smriti Mandhana Created history by receiving the Best International Women Cricketer award for a record fifth time. Mandhana’s 2025 season was statistically phenomenal; She became the first woman in ODI history to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year, scoring 1,362 runs in this format. Her crucial contribution of 434 runs during India’s maiden Women’s World Cup win and her century in 50 balls against Australia – the fastest by an Indian woman – cemented her status as a global icon.
BCCI also gave prestigious honor Colonel CK Naidu Lifetime Achievement Award On three greats of the game:
- Roger Binny: The 1983 World Cup hero and former BCCI president was honored for his decades of service as a player and administrator.
- Rahul Dravid: “The Wall” was celebrated for his unblemished playing career (over 24,000 international runs) and his recent success as a coach, leading both the U19 and senior men’s teams to World Cup glory.
- Mithali Raj: The pioneer of Indian women’s cricket was recognized for her 23-year career and her record 7,805 ODI runs, a feat that remains unmatched in the women’s game.
The night ended with a sense of optimism, as Samson commented during the ceremony, “India is going to do this more and more often,” Referring to the growing collection of silverware in the country.
Also read: Robin Uthappa explains why IPL 2026 will be a challenging season for Vaibhav Suryavanshi