India cricket captain Virat Kohli has bagged two honours at the ICC Awards of the Decade ceremony, which was virtually announced on Monday by the world cricket body.
Virat Kohli has won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade.
The incredible Virat Kohli wins the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade
Most runs in the #ICCAwards period: 20,396
Most hundreds: 66
Most fifties: 94
️ Highest average among players with 70+ innings: 56.97
2011 @cricketworldcup champion pic.twitter.com/lw0wTNlzGi— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
The 32-year-old has also been named the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade.
VIRAT KOHLI is the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade
Only player with 10,000-plus ODI runs in the #ICCAwards period
39 centuries, 48 fifties
️ 61.83 average
✊ 112 catchesA run machine pic.twitter.com/0l0cDy4TYz
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
The India talisman has amassed 20,396 runs across the three formats of the game, which is the most runs scored by any cricketer from January 1, 2011, to October 7, 2020 - the period taken into consideration for the ICC awards.
Kohli has 66 centuries and 94 fifties to his name during this period and has been averaging 56.97, which is also the highest among players with 70+ innings. Interestingly, the right-handed batsman was named ICC Cricketer of the Year in both 2017 and 2018.
"My only intention was to make winning contributions for the team and I just strive to do that in every game. Stats just become the byproduct of what you want to do on the field," Virat Kohli said after winning the award.
"My only intention was to make winning contributions for the team and I just strive to do that in every game. Stats just become the byproduct of what you want to do on the field."
️ Virat Kohli reacts to winning the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade award #ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/MF7LDRhg3v
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
Australia batsman Steve Smith has bagged the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade award. During this time period, the former Australian skipper has scored 7040 Test runs at a staggering average of 65.79. He has registered 26 hundred and 28 fifties to his name.
STEVE SMITH is the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade
7040 Test runs in the #ICCAwards period
️ 65.79 average ➜ Highest in top 50
26 hundreds, 28 fiftiesUnique, relentless and unbelievably consistent pic.twitter.com/UlXvHaFbDz
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
The shortest format of the game has seen Afghanistan spin sensation Rashid Khan claiming the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade award.
The 22-year-old has taken 89 wickets at an impressive average of 12.62, the maximum by any player in the time period. Rashid has bagged 3 four-wicket hauls and two five-fers.
RASHID KHAN is the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade
☝️ Highest wicket-taker in the #ICCAwards period ➜ 89
️ 12.62 average
Three four-wicket hauls, two five-forsWhat a story ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Y59Y6nCs98
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
Meanwhile, former Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade.
MS DHONI wins the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade
The former India captain was chosen by fans unanimously for his gesture of calling back England batsman Ian Bell after a bizarre run out in the Nottingham Test in 2011.#ICCAwards | #SpiritOfCricket pic.twitter.com/3eCpyyBXwu
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
On the other hand, Australia women’s cricketer Ellyse Perry bagged multiple awards at the ICC Awards of the Decade including the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade.
The phenomenal Ellyse Perry wins the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade
4349 international runs during the #ICCAwards period
☝️ 213 wickets
Four-time @T20WorldCup champion
@CricketWorldCup 2013 championA clean sweep for Perry ⭐ pic.twitter.com/yc9GjGBlFS
— ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
ICC Awards 2020: Complete winners list
Sir Garfield Sobers award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade: Virat Kohli
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade: Virat Kohli
ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade: Steve Smith
ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade: Rashid Khan
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade: MS Dhoni
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade: Ellyse Perry
ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade: Ellyse Perry
ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade: Ellyse Perry
ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Decade: Kyle Coetzer
ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Decade: Kathryn Bryce
Feature image courtesy: WILLIAM WEST / AFP
