DUBAI: Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli created history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to win all the three individual honours at the annual ICC Awards.
Capping off an extraordinary 2018, the 30-year-old won the Men’s Test Player of the Year Award, ODI Player of the Year Award and the Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) respectively.
He scored 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08 in 13 Tests with five hundreds during the calendar year while in 14 ODIs he amassed 1202 runs at an astonishing average of 133.55 with six centuries. He also scored 211 runs in 10 T20Is.
Kohli was also named the captain of the ICC Test and ODI teams of the year for India’s fabulous run in international cricket, as the team ended 2018 being the World No.1 with a Test and bilateral ODI series win in Australia for the first time ever.
The batting legend commented on the development: “It feels amazing. It’s a reward for all the hard work that you do throughout the calendar year. I feel really grateful and very, very happy with the team doing well at the same time myself performing. Having recognition at the global level from the ICC is something you feel proud of as a cricketer because you understand that there are many players playing the game.
“To be rewarded in this manner from amongst all of them is obviously a very proud moment for me and something that gives you more motivation to keep repeating the same things because you have to keep the standard of cricket up and keep bringing in consistent performances. From that point of view, these awards give you that extra motivation.
“Having recognition at the global level from the ICC is something you feel proud of as a cricketer.”
ICC CEO David Richardson added: “Sincere congratulations to every one of our individual winners and those players named in our ICC Test and ODI teams of the year. Special mention must go to Virat Kohli, who becomes the first ever player to win the Sir Garfield Sobers award along with Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year and be named as captain of both teams.
“This is well-deserved recognition for an extraordinary talent. His regard for the game and particularly for Test cricket is also recognised and appreciated. He is passionate in his support of the longest form of the game and its continued importance. To be recognised as a true cricketing great you need to be successful at all formats of the game and Virat has become a great ambassador for our sport.”
Kohli had won the Sir Garfield Trophy and ICC ODI Player of the Year awards last year and was also the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2012.
Amongst other Indians, the 21-year-old dynamic wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant won the ICC Emerging Player of the Year Award. He was also included in the Test team of the Year alongside Kohli and his fast bowling teammate, Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah was accompanied by Rohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav in the ODI Team of the Year.
