The BCCI Naman AwardsThe March 15 event in New Delhi was more than just an official recognition of cricketing excellence; It was a lively celebration of a historic year for Indian cricket. After a great season India secured numerous ICC titles including Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and Women’s ODI World Cup 2025the atmosphere in the castle was electric.
It served as a bridge between the generations who respected legends like the evening Rahul Dravid and Mithali Raj while focusing on the meteoric rise of young stars. However, amid the glitter of the trophies and the solemnity of the performances, one segment stood out for its charm and humor: the high-energy rapid fire round hosted by The Voice of Cricket, Harsha Bhogle.
A joyous rapid fire display by Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya and Vaibhav Suryavanshi
The highlight of the unofficial segments was undoubtedly when Bhogle was invited Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandyaand the 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to the stage for a rapid fire session. Losing their competitive intensity, the players gave fans a rare glimpse into their personal lives and childhood inspirations.
When asked about their cricketing idols, the responses reflected varied influences. Abhishek Sharma he did not hesitate to mention his teacher’s name Yuvraj Singhwhile Sanju Samson stayed true to his roots Sachin Tendulkar. In a classic witty twist, Hardik Pandya called a local legend Wasim Jafarwhen he was young Vaibhav Suryavanshi he demonstrated a broad palate with reference to both Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh.
The conversation took a nostalgic turn with questions about their first video games. While Abhishek reminisced about the classic EA Sports game Cricket 07 and Sanju reminisced about the open world chaos of GTA Vice City, Hardik revealed that he is a WWE fan. Proving that the modern teenager is indeed a different breed, Vaibhav simply said: “Sir, I don’t play video games” was greeted with applause by the audience.
The humor continued as they discussed their first cars. Abhishek started off modestly with a Honda Activa and Sanju today recalled the Maruti Wagon R. Hardik, known for his luxury car collection, said his journey began with the Maruti 800. Meanwhile, Vaibhav, too young to drive, admits that he hasn’t bought anything yet.
One of the most surprising revelations came from Samson; When asked about the first match he saw at the stadium, he admitted: “I think it was an IPL game that I attended. I never went to the stadium to watch a match (as a fan).” To top it off, the players shared their cinematic tastes, from Sanju’s devotion Super star Rajinikanth To Hardik’s strange obsession godzilla, Abhishek’s 3 Idiots and Vaibhav’s Dhurandhar.
We present the video:
Champions take some rapid fire questions! âš¡
First game? First car? and more ft Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi! 🙌 #Naman Awards pic.twitter.com/pj9KDOma68
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 15, 2026
Also READ: From Rahul Dravid to Shubman Gill: BCCI has announced the list of winners for the Naman Awards
Main prize distributions at BCCI Naman Awards
While the rapid-fire round provided a laugh, the focus of the Naman Awards was to celebrate record-breaking performances in the 2024-25 season.
Shubman Gill holding the second was the man of the hour Polly Umrigar Award Best International Cricketer (Men). The Indian Test and ODI captain enjoyed a legendary 2025 amassing 1764 runs across the formats. His dominance in red-ball cricket was the talk of the night, particularly his 754-run tally in the five-Test series against England, where he scored an astonishing 75.40 and a career-best 269.
On the women’s side, Smriti Mandhana She made history by winning the award for the best women’s international cricketer for a record fifth time. Mandhana’s 2025 season was statistically unprecedented; She became the first woman in ODI history to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year and finished with 1,362 runs in the format. Her key contribution of 434 runs during India’s maiden Women’s World Cup win and her 50-ball century against Australia – the fastest by an Indian woman – cemented her status as a global icon.
BTSO also gave prestigious awards Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award to the three giants 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 impeccable 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 record of 7,805 ODI runs, which remains unmatched in the women’s game.
As Samson said during the ceremony, the night ended on a note of optimism: “India will do this more and more often” refers to the nation’s growing collection of silverware.
Also READ: Robin Uthappa explains why IPL 2026 will be a tough season for Vaibhav Suryavanshi
