Rahul Dravid, the departing head coach of the Indian cricket team, has once again demonstrated his commitment to fairness and equality. True to his principles, Dravid has declined the extra ₹2.5 crore bonus offered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and instead opted to receive the same ₹2.5 crore bonus as his support staff. This bonus is equivalent to that received by the rest of the coaching team, including bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore.
The BCCI had initially planned to reward Dravid with a ₹5 crore bonus, matching the amount given to the players of India’s victorious T20 World Cup team. The remaining support staff were set to receive ₹2.5 crore each, while selectors and traveling members of the squad were allocated ₹1 crore each. However, Dravid insisted on receiving the same amount as his coaching colleagues, a stance he has maintained since his time as head coach of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning team in 2018.
A BCCI insider commented, “Rahul wanted the same bonus money as the rest of his support staff. We respect his sentiments.”
Dravid’s consistency in promoting equality was evident during the 2018 U-19 World Cup when he refused to accept a higher bonus than his support staff. Originally, Dravid was to receive ₹50 lakh, while the other staff members were to get ₹20 lakh each, and the players ₹30 lakh each. Dravid requested that all staff members receive an equal amount, resulting in a revised award of ₹25 lakh for each member of the coaching team.
This principled approach has earned Dravid immense respect from players and colleagues alike. During his tenure, he fostered a strong bond with the players, emphasizing consistency in selection and fairness. Celebrations of India’s T20 World Cup victory brought Dravid to the forefront, with captain Rohit Sharma and senior player Virat Kohli acknowledging his significant contribution. Rohit Sharma, who persuaded Dravid to extend his coaching stint for the T20 World Cup, expressed his admiration, stating, “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.”
Despite never having won a World Cup as a player, Dravid achieved this milestone as a coach, solidifying his legacy in Indian cricket.
