Rahul Dravid’s Integrity
Rahul Dravid has once again demonstrated his unwavering commitment to his principles. Upholding his belief in equality, the outgoing head coach declined the additional ₹2.5 crore bonus offered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This bonus was intended to match the amount given to the members of India’s T20 World Cup winning team.
Sticking to His Values
In line with his longstanding values, Dravid insisted on receiving the same prize money as his support staff, including bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore. “Rahul wanted the same bonus money (₹2.5 crore) as the rest of his support staff. We respect his sentiments,” a BCCI source confirmed.
Equitable Distribution of Rewards
According to the BCCI’s distribution formula, each of the 15 players and Dravid were allocated ₹5 crore from the ₹125 crore prize money. The support staff were set to receive ₹2.5 crore each, while selectors and travelling members of the squad were to get ₹1 crore each.
Dravid has consistently advocated for equal recognition. In 2018, as head coach of India’s U-19 World Cup team, he refused to accept a higher bonus than his support staff. The BCCI revised the awards to ₹25 lakh for each coaching staff member, including Dravid, following his insistence on equality.
A Bond with Players
Dravid’s approach and principles have fostered a strong bond with the players. Despite never winning a World Cup as a player, he achieved this milestone as a coach of the T20 World Cup winning team. His leadership was celebrated by the team, with captain Rohit Sharma and senior player Virat Kohli acknowledging his significant contribution.
“You are an absolute stalwart of this game, but you left all of your accolades and achievements at the door and walked in as our coach and came on a level where we all felt comfortable enough to say just about anything to you,” Rohit Sharma wrote about Dravid.