Jemimah Rodrigues, Sunil Gavaskar light up BCCI Awards with melodious performance on stage

Jemimah Rodrigues & Sunil Gavaskar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organised its award ceremony — Naman Awards for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, January 23, in Hyderabad.

Several cricketers from past and present graced the momentous occasion. During the event, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar and star Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues rocked the stage and enthralled the crowd with a duet singing performance. Jemimah’s love for music isn’t unknown, as she has been seen in quite a few videos, playing the guitar and singing melodiously. However, Gavaskar’s singing ability took many by surprise as fans got to see a different side of the legendary cricketer-turned-commentator.

Rodrigues shared a 39-second video on her official ‘X’ handle where she can be seen strumming the guitar and singing the famous song “Kya Hua Tera Waada” from the Bollywood film “Hum Kisise Kum Nahi” with Gavaskar for company. Before the video ends, Gavaskar and Jemimah shake hands before the crowd begins chanting “once more”. On listening to the chants, the former hilariously exited.

Jemimah shared her experience of singing with the cricketing icon in the caption of her video. She also revealed that it was the 74-year-old who suggested the idea of performing together on the stage.

“If someone had told me that one day I’d be singing with Sunil Gavaskar sir on stage I’d say no way! But IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. PS: It was Sunil sir’s idea to sing together on stage. What a legend,” Jemimah wrote.

In the star-studded ceremony, Deepti Sharma won the Best International Cricketer — Women award for 2019-2020 and 2022-2023. Her teammate Smriti Mandhana was conferred with the same award for the 2020-2021 and 2021–2022 seasons.

Among other notable honours, former all-rounder Ravi Shastri and wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer were bestowed with the Col. CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Awards as a recognition for their continued contribution to the BCCI and Indian cricket ever since making their national debuts, respectively.