‘Dravid declines higher bonus, opts for equal pay with support staff’

NEW DELHI: India’s outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid has declined the additional Rs 2.5 crore bonus offered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for leading the team to its second T20 World Cup title. According to reports, Dravid chose to take the same Rs 2.5 crore bonus as his support staff to ensure equality.
Initially, the BCCI had decided to award Dravid a Rs 5 crore bonus, the same amount given to the playing squad members.However, Dravid requested a reduction in his bonus to align it with the Rs 2.5 crore given to the other support staff. This includes bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, fielding coach T. Dilip, and batting coach Vikram Rathore.

“Rahul wanted the same bonus money (Rs. 2.5 crore) as the rest of his support staff. We respect his sentiments,” a BCCI source reportedly disclosed.

As per media reports, the BCCI’s distribution plan had allocated Rs 5 crore each to the 15 playing members of India’s winning squad and Dravid, from the Rs 125 crore prize money. The support staff were set to receive Rs 2.5 crore each, while selectors and traveling members of the squad would get Rs 1 crore each.

This is not the first instance of Dravid taking a stand for equal distribution of rewards. In 2018, as the head coach of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning team, Dravid also refused a higher bonus for himself. At that time, the BCCI had initially decided to award him Rs 50 lakh while other support staff members would receive Rs 20 lakh each and the players Rs 30 lakh each. Dravid requested an equal distribution, resulting in a revised list where every member of the

coaching staff, including Dravid, received Rs 25 lakh each.
Dravid’s actions reflect his unwavering commitment to equality and team spirit, hallmarks of his coaching tenure that have set a high standard for integrity and leadership in Indian cricket.