Kohli, Gill Among 4 Players Nominated for ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer Of The Year
Virat Kohli had a tremendous WC 2023 campaign [X.com]
On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the nominees for the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year Award for 2023. The nominations predominantly feature Indian players who had an outstanding year in ODI cricket, highlighted by their remarkable performances in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where they enjoyed an unbeaten streak in 10 matches before losing the final to Australia.
Virat Kohli, the recipient of the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Decade award, is among the nominees for this year's ODI Cricketer of the year thanks to his exceptional record in the one-day format.
Alongside him are his teammates Shubman Gill and Mohammed Shami from India and New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell as the other contenders.
King Kohli had an outstanding year, accumulating 1377 runs at an average of 72.47, with six centuries and eight half-centuries in 24 innings, including a best of 166*. Not only with the bat but also in the field, Kohli contributed by taking 12 catches in 27 matches.
His stellar batting was prominently on display at the World Cup, where he amassed 765 runs in just 11 innings, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in a single World Cup edition. Kohli further solidified his legacy by achieving 50 ODI centuries, surpassing the 'God of Cricket' once again.
In 2023, Gill emerged as a sensational talent in ODIs, amassing an impressive 1584 runs, including five centuries. With the personal best of 208, Gill scored his runs at a stellar average of 68.91 and a strike rate of 105.7.
His remarkable performance not only earned him acclaim but also established him as India's leading run-scorer in ODIs for the year, making him a strong contender for the award.
New Zealand's dynamic middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell also had a standout year, scoring 1204 runs, the third-highest by a New Zealand batter in a calendar year in the format.
Additionally, he contributed with the ball, claiming six wickets and taking 22 catches in 26 matches. Mitchell's exceptional form in the World Cup saw him smash two centuries against the eventual runners-up India.
If Kohli secures the award this year, it will mark his fourth win, establishing him as the only player in history to achieve this feat.
South Africa legend and Kohli's dear friend AB de Villiers has also won the award thrice alongside the Indian batter. Kohli's accomplishment of scoring 50 centuries in ODIs is the most significant achievement of the year, setting him apart from the other contenders vying for their first award win.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")