New Delhi: Rahul Dravid’s humility shone through once again as the outgoing head coach refused Rs 2.5 crore extra bonus awarded by the Indian cricket board (BCOI) after their T20 World Cup triumph in Barbados. Dravid took the call to ensure all the members of the support staff of the senior men’s team were rewarded with equal bonus prizes.
The BCCI announced Rs 125 crore prize money for Team India members, including the players and the support staff. While the players and Rahul Dravid were awarded Rs 5 crore, the other members of the support staff, including batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip were slated to receive Rs 2.5 crore as bonus. However, a source told India Today that Rahul Dravid told the board that he would only take Rs 2.5 crore as a bonus.
The 15 players who were part of the squad were rewarded with Rs 5 crore each. The support staff members got Rs 2.5 crore while the selectors and the traveling reserves were rewarded with Rs 1 crore each. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah and President Roger Binny handed over the prize money to the team after their victory parade in Mumbai on Thursday, July 4.
It’s not the first time Rahul Dravid has come up with such a heartwarming gesture. In 2018, after India won the U19 Men’s World Cup trophy, BCCI announced Rs 50 lakh prize reward for then coach Dravid, Rs 20 lakh for other members of his team, and Rs 30 lakh for the players. Dravid had asked the Indian cricket board to divide the prize money equally among the coaching staff and the board agreed to his request.
Rahul Dravid had spoken highly of the members of his support staff when he recalled the T20 World Cup triumph during the felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. Along with Dravid, the tenures of Rathour, Mhambrey and Dilip also ended.