Shubham Gill to Deepti Sharma, youngsters shine at Indian Cricket Board's yearly 'Naman' award ceremony

The Indian Cricket Board recently rolled out the red carpet for the NAMAN Awards ceremony in Hyderabad. In a grand event, the board brought together the cricket fraternity to celebrate outstanding performances in the sport. This marked a significant return of the prestigious awards, which had been on hiatus since 2019 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisment

One of the standout moments of the evening was the recognition of exemplary achievements in Test cricket during the 2022–23 season against the West Indies. R. Ashwin claimed the Dilip Sardesai Award for the most wickets, showcasing his spin brilliance. On the batting front, young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal emerged as the leading run scorer, earning him the same prestigious award.

The ceremony also shone a spotlight on emerging talents, with the Best Debut for India Men being awarded to Yashasvi Jaiswal for the 2022–23 season. This accolade adds to the impressive list of young cricketers who have made impactful debuts for the national team in recent years. Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Mayank Agarwal won it in the last three years, respectively.

Deepti Sharma bags big in the Naman Awards 2023

Advertisment

Star India allrounder Deepti Sharma was a double winner in the Women's category, receiving the Best International Cricketer Award for both the 2019-20 and 2022-23 seasons. Similarly, Smriti Mandhana, the prolific opener and vice-captain of Team India, secured the Best International Cricketer - Women for two consecutive years (2020-21 and 2021-22).

In the Men's category, the Best International Cricketer Award for 2019-20 went to the pace maestro, Mohd. Shami, for his outstanding contributions on the field. Looking ahead, the same award for the next three years was claimed by Ravichandran Ashwin (2020-21), Jasprit Bumrah (2021-22), and Shubman Gill (2022-23), showcasing their consistent excellence.

The evening also witnessed the presentation of the Polly Umrigar Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2019-20, which was bestowed upon the legendary Farokh Engineer. Additionally, Ravi Shastri received the same prestigious award for 2022-23, marking the culmination of a stellar career both as a player and a coach.

Advertisment

The NAMAN Awards ceremony was a glittering affair that brought together the cricketing community to honour and applaud the remarkable achievements of Indian cricketers across various categories. The event not only recognised past glories but also served as a testament to the bright future ahead for Indian cricket, fueled by the passion and dedication of these exceptional athletes.

List of domestic cricketers who received awards: