TOI Sports Desk
Former head coach Rahul Dravid, who has made an indelible mark on Indian cricket, was conferred with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his remarkable contributions to the sport.His guidance and mentorship have played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of numerous cricketers.
Virat Kohli, India’s batting mainstay, was named the ‘Men’s ODI Batter of the Year’ for his consistent and prolific performances in the 50-over format. His ability to score runs consistently and anchor the innings has been instrumental in India’s success.
Mohammed Shami, the highest wicket-taker during the 2023 ODI World Cup with 24 scalps, was deservedly named the ‘ODI Bowler of the Year’. His ability to swing the ball and maintain an impeccable line and length has made him a formidable force in the Indian bowling attack.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young batting sensation, was named the ‘Men’s Test Batter of the Year’ for his remarkable performance against England earlier this year, where he amassed 712 runs in the five-Test series. His talent and composure at such a young age have earned him widespread acclaim.
R. Ashwin, the veteran off-spinner, was honoured as the ‘Men’s Test Bowler of the Year’ for his consistent wicket-taking abilities and his ability to outfox batters with his guile and variations.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who received an award for excellence in sports administration, expressed his confidence in the Indian teams’ ability to clinch more trophies in the future. He emphasized the support of 1.4 billion people and the determination to succeed in major tournaments like the Champions Trophy, World Test Championship final, and the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore, who led his team to the Ranji Trophy final last season, was named the ‘Domestic Cricketer of the Year’ for his outstanding leadership and performances in domestic cricket.
New Zealand’s Tim Southee was awarded the ‘Men’s T20I Bowler of the Year’ for his impressive performances in the shortest format, while England’s Phil Salt was adjudged the ‘Best Batter of the Year’ in T20Is.
India women’s team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was presented with a memento for leading the country in the most T20I matches, while her deputy and opening batter Smriti Mandhana was adjudged the ‘Women’s Indian Batter of the Year’.
Deepti Sharma, known for her all-round abilities, was named the ‘Indian Bowler of the Year’ for her consistent performances with the ball.
Opening batter Shafali Verma was honoured with a memento for scoring the fastest double century in women’s Test cricket, a remarkable feat achieved off 194 balls against South Africa in the Chennai Test earlier this year.
Shreyas Iyer, who captained Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title, was presented with a memento for ‘outstanding leadership’ in guiding his team to success in the prestigious tournament.