INDIAN MEN’S TEST and ODI captain Shubman Gill and Women’s opening batter Smriti Mandhana, were named the Best International Cricketers (across categories) at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 on Sunday in New Delhi.
The ceremony recognised the outstanding performances of Indian cricketers across the domestic and international arena.
While Gill won the Polly Umrigar Award for the 2nd time, Mandhana, who won the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup last year, received the award for the fifth time. Gill won this award for the first time since 2023.
1983 World Cup winner Roger Binny, along with former Indian captains Rahul Dravid and Mithali Raj were honoured with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award to celebrate and recognise their outstanding service to Indian cricket. This is also Board of Control for Cricket in India’s highest honour.
Gill enjoyed a stellar 2025 home and abroad to establish himself as one of the team’s most dependable batters in the longer formats.
As captain of the Test team during India’s tour of England, the 26-year-old led from the front in the 5-match series, finishing as the top run-getter with 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40. He also smashed 4 centuries on the way with a top score of 269.
Gill also played a pivotal role in India’s Champions Trophy triumph last year, having entered the tournament as the No.1-ranked ODI batter in the world. He made an unbeaten 101 against Bangladesh in India’s opening match, and finished the tournament with 188 runs.
Mandhana finished 2025 with 1,703 international runs, including 1,362 in ODIs, the most by any woman in a calendar year. In doing so, Mandhana became the first batter in women’s ODI history to score 1,000 runs in a single calendar year.
Mandhana also made handsome contributions to India’s maiden Women’s World Cup title triumph, aggregating 434 runs in nine matches to end as the tournament as India’s leading run-scorer and the second-highest overall.
Complete List Of The BCCI Naman Awards 2026
Highest Wickets in One Day Internationals 2024-25 Women – Deepti Sharma
Highest Run-Getter in One Day Internationals 2024-25 Women – Smriti Mandhana
Best International Debut in 2024-25 Women – Shree Charani
Best International Debut in 2024-25 Men – Harshit Rana
Best International Cricketer in 2024-25 Women – Smriti Mandhana
