In a surprising move, the Indian cricket board has decided to reward India Under-19 coach Rahul Dravid with a cash prize of rupees five million (Dh 280,000) for helping the team win the Under-19 World Cup.

What make the decision intriguing is the fact the amount is substantially more than the rupees three million (Dh170,000) each playing member of the winning Indian team has been awarded.

Generally, the players on the field get the greater share of the winning bonus. But the BCCI, led by the court-appointed Committee of Administrators, decided the head coach should get the bigger financial reward.

“India is known for its guru shishya parampara (Hindi phrase which roughly translates to teacher-student tradition) and the guru always gets more. Obviously, the stature of the coach matters a lot,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India on Saturday.

Interestingly, when India won the U-19 World Cup in 2008 and 2012, the then coaches Dav Whatmore (2008) and Bharath Arun (2012) did not get more money than the players.

Meanwhile, Committee of Administrators chief Vinod Rai said: “I congratulate the U19 team who have made the country proud. Head coach Rahul Dravid played his cricket with sincerity and it was pleasing to see the boys uphold the value.”

BCCI CEO Rahul Johri added: “Winning the World Cup without losing a solitary game is a fantastic achievement and I congratulate everyone for this dominant show. In Rahul Dravid, we have a fantastic coach who is moulding the youngsters and also fine-tuning the boys at the India A level before they progress to the senior side.”