Virat Kohli to get cricketer of the year award at BCCI annual gala
India captain will be awarded Best Cricketer of the Year for 2 seasons
New Delhi, June 7: India captain Virat Kohli's phenomenal batting form on Thursday fetched him the BCCI’s best cricketer award for two seasons, while World Cup stars Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana were chosen for the women’s equivalent of the honour, the Board announced. “Following his phenomenal show in the past two seasons, Team India captain Virat Kohli will be presented with the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for the best international cricketer ( 2016- 17 and 201718) at the BCCI Awards to be held in Bengaluru on June 12,” the BCCI said. In the 2016- 17 season. Kohli amassed 1,332 runs in 13 Tests at a phenomenal average of 74, while he averaged 84.22 for his 1,516 runs in 27 ODIs during the period.
In the six Tests played in the 2017- 18 seasons, Kohli scored 896 runs at an average of 89.6, while ODI average stands at 75.50. Kohli will walk away with a prize money of ` 15 lakh for each season in the men’s category, while Harmanpreet and
M and han a, both of whom played a crucial role in India's impressive runners- up finish at the World last year, will become maiden recipients of the awards for best international cricketer ( women) for the 2016- 17 and 2017- 18 seasons respectively.
To honour former President Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI has rechristened four awards in remembrance of the late administrator. “The Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy will be presented to the leading run- scorer and wicket- taker respectively in the U- 16 Vijay Merchant Trophy and to the Best Junior and Senior Cricketer in women's cricket.”
The Board also raised prize money for nine categories by ` 1 lakh and it now stands at ` 1.5 lakh. Also, in a first, the board has decided to bestow the lifetime achievement award ( 2016- 17) on the late Pankaj Roy.
The Cricket Association of Bengal was adjudged the best state association ( 201617) while the Delhi and District Cricket Association got the prize for the 2017- 18 season.
“The last two years have been fabulous for Indian Cricket with both the men and women's teams doing very well,” Committee of Administrators chairman Vinod Rai said.