New Delhi: Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has sparked a debate over the distribution of prize money following India’s recent Champions Trophy triumph. In a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar questioned whether current head coach Gautam Gambhir would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Rahul Dravid, who had previously declined additional compensation above his support staff.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a substantial cash reward of Rs 58 crore for the victorious Champions Trophy 2025 squad. Players and head coach Gautam Gambhir are set to receive Rs 3 crore each, while assistant coaches and support staff will be awarded Rs 50 lakh each. BCCI officials are slated to receive Rs 25 lakh each.
Gavaskar’s comments stem from Dravid’s decision after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory, where the former coach opted to share his reward equally with his support staff. “After the ICC T20 World Cup win and the Board announcement of prize money, the then-coach Rahul Dravid, ever the team man, refused to accept more than his fellow members of the coaching staff and, in fact, shared it equally with his colleagues,” Gavaskar wrote.
The former captain expressed curiosity about Gambhir’s stance on the matter, noting that two weeks had passed since the BCCI’s announcement without any word from the current coach. Gavaskar pondered, “It’s been a fortnight since the BCCI announced the Champions Trophy rewards, but we haven’t heard anything from the current coach on whether he will also do a Dravid. Or is it that Dravid, in this instance, is not a good role model?”
While raising this question, Gavaskar also commended the BCCI for its generous rewards to the team. He highlighted that the board had previously awarded Rs 125 crore to the squad, support staff, and selectors after the T20 World Cup victory in July last year. The former cricketer praised the BCCI’s approach, stating, “This is truly fantastic, as the Board, which is now awash with funds, is showing its appreciation for the efforts put in by everybody and rewarding them generously.”
