India’s former head coach Rahul Dravid has garnered attention for his modest gesture as he bids farewell to the Indian Team. Following the Men in Blue’s triumph at the ICC T20 World Cup in Barbados, Dravid was offered an additional ₹2.5 crore bonus by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, Dravid declined the bonus emphasizing that his support staff – bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore – should receive equal compensation.
The BCCI had declared rewards for all individuals associated with India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning team. Four reserve players and selectors are each set to receive ₹1 crore, while the rest of the support staff, including three physiotherapists, three throwdown specialists, two masseurs, and the strength and conditioning coach, will each receive ₹2 crore. Although Dravid, as the head coach, was entitled to an additional bonus on top of his prize money, he graciously requested the board to award him the same amount as his three colleagues.
This isn’t the first instance of Dravid making such a choice. After the India Under-19 World Cup team, led by Prithvi Shaw won the 2018 title, Dravid was supposed to receive ₹50 lakh, while the players were to get ₹30 lakh and other staff members ₹20 lakh each. Dravid asked the BCCI to distribute the prize money equally among the coaching staff, and the board honored his request on that occasion as well. 
Reactions:
People from across the cricketing world have taken to Twitter to praise the 51-year-old for his commendable gesture. Navjot Singh Sidhu wrote on his twitter, “ The fragrance comes from his Character, not a perfume.”
Cricket analyst and commentator Harsha Bhogle couldn’t help but praise Dravid, saying,“ In a world where ‘come-look-at-me’ is a disease and paid PR is an acceptable way of life, Rahul Dravid makes humility look cool.”
Former India captain Rahul Dravid took over as head coach in November 2021, serving in the role for more than 2.5 years before stepping down. In his final match as head coach, the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, ended their 17-year wait for a second T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by seven runs at Barbados on June 29th.
On Tuesday (July 9), the BCCI announced that former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir would replace Dravid. Gambhir, who was the leading scorer for India in both the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup final, will serve as head coach until December 2027.
