New Delhi: The outgoing Rahul Dravid once again showcased his remarkable integrity by forgoing a ₹2.5 crore bonus and choosing to receive the same prize money as the rest of the support staff. But did you know, before Dravid, it was India captain Rohit Sharma’s generous proposal that ensured the underpaid support staff weren’t left disappointed? Captain Rohit and coach Dravid were set to receive ₹5 crore each from the ₹125 crore prize money announced for the Indian team for winning the T20 World Cup. While Dravid’s selfless act earned widespread praise, Rohit’s gesture should not be overlooked.
The prize money declaration on July 1 raised a few concerns. With the ₹125 crore intended to be distributed among players, coaches, and reserve players according to the initial breakdown, some support staff members were set to receive significantly less. These members included the throwdown specialist, analysts, masseuse, physio, and others.
That’s when Rohit stepped up and advocated for equal pay for the support staff. According to a report by Dainik Jagran, a player revealed during the chartered flight from Barbados to India that Rohit was willing to give up a portion of his own prize money to ensure everyone received fair and generous compensation.
As it turns out, while Dravid’s gesture ensured batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip received ₹2.5 crore each, Rohit’s actions led to the remaining support staff receiving ₹2 crore each. Although Rohit didn’t specify any individual for whom he made this sacrifice, the player revealed that these actions define a brilliant captain who considers everyone involved in the team’s success. It was only after Rohit took a firm stance that the BCCI decided to allocate ₹2 crore each to strength and conditioning coaches, physios, analysts, and others involved.
Rohit’s generous offer is a testament to why he is one of the most beloved and respected captains in the history of Indian cricket. Ask Team India’s youngsters, and you’ll always hear them speak highly of Rohit, holding him in great esteem. Indian cricket has seen gifted skippers like Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, but the respect Rohit commands is truly unique and rare. Youngsters see him as the elder brother they can always rely on.
