The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently declared a cash reward of INR 58 crore for the team that won the Champions Trophy. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar questioned whether Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach, would emulate his predecessor, Rahul Dravid, by declining to accept a larger share than the other support staff members.

It is noteworthy that former head coach Rahul Dravid declined an additional INR 2.5 crore that the Indian cricket board offered him following the victory of Rohit Sharma and the team in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they triumphed over South Africa in the final held in Barbados. Dravid chose to receive an equal portion of the prize money alongside his support staff. The BCCI distributed a total of INR 125 crore to the entire contingent after India ended an 11-year drought for an ICC title.

Gavaskar has now raised the question of whether Gautam Gambhir will follow Dravid's example. He also pointed out that Gambhir has remained silent regarding the BCCI's announcement of the prize money.

The specific amount allocated to head coach Gautam Gambhir and the rest of the support staff remains unclear. The board has confirmed the total prize money of INR 58 crore in an official statement.

"In the wake of the ICC T20 World Cup victory and the BCCI's announcement of prize money, the then-coach Rahul Dravid, always a team player, chose not to accept more than his fellow coaching staff and instead shared the reward equally with them," Gavaskar noted in his column for Sportstar.

"It has been two weeks since the BCCI revealed the Champions Trophy rewards, yet we have not heard from the current coach regarding whether he will also adopt Dravid's approach. Or is it possible that Dravid is not considered a suitable role model in this case?" he added.

'BCCI now awash with funds'

Gavaskar praised the Indian cricket board for its decision to reward the players who triumphed in the eight-team Champions Trophy. Previously, Rohit Sharma and his team secured victory against New Zealand in the final, marking India's third Champions Trophy win. The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

"Following our boys' success in the Champions Trophy, the BCCI has announced an impressive ₹58 crore for the team, support staff, and selection committee. In July of the previous year, after the remarkable win in the ICC T20 World Cup, the BCCI allocated ₹125 crore for the team, support staff, and selectors," Gavaskar stated.

"This is truly remarkable, as the Board, now with substantial financial resources, is demonstrating its gratitude for everyone's contributions and rewarding them generously. Additionally, the BCCI is allowing the players to retain the prize money awarded by the ICC for the winners, which is also a significant sum for each," he continued.

Gavaskar further drew a comparison between the present era and the 1983 World Cup, noting that at that time, each member of the victorious squad received INR 1 lakh as a reward.

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