Rahul Dravid, the recently departed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has once again displayed his strong principles by refusing a larger bonus than his support staff. Following India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allocated a bonus structure that awarded Dravid ₹5 crore, equivalent to the players’ bonus. In comparison, the support staff received ₹2.5 crore each.
Dravid insisted that he should be paid equally to his colleagues Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach, T Dilip, the fielding coach, and Vikram Rathore, the batting coach in their team. One of the sources from BCCI confirmed that “Rahul asked for an equal amount of bonus which is ₹2.5 crores just like others including his support staff”
Dravid has always favoured equality within the team before. In 2018 he won the U-19 World Cup while coaching India. During the U-19 World Cup victory, the Indian U-19 team triumphed, thus bringing a similar situation. Dravid, however, advocated for an even distribution, resulting in a revised bonus structure with equal rewards for everyone.
The BCCI’s original plan for the T20 World Cup win saw ₹125 crore set aside for bonuses. This amount was divided, with ₹5 crore each going to Dravid and the 15 players. The support staff received ₹2.5 crore each, while selectors and travelling members of the squad were allocated ₹1 crore each.
Dravid’s accomplishments as a player are undeniable, but a World Cup title has eluded him throughout his career. This victory as head coach finally fulfilled that dream. The team’s celebrations highlighted the strong bond Dravid had fostered with the players, evident in captain Rohit Sharma’s public message. Rohit played a key role in convincing Dravid to stay on for the T20 World Cup after India’s loss in the ODI World Cup finals last year.
In his message, Rohit praised Dravid, 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.”
Dravid’s decision to decline the bonus underscores his leadership style, which prioritizes teamwork and respects the contributions of all members of the coaching staff. This gesture has garnered significant praise and further solidified his reputation as a coach who values unity and fairness.
