Those are the categories Virat Kohli won at the ICC awards this year and yes, you’re correct, there is no big slot left for anyone else.
ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year
Also, this is the very first time a cricketer has won all three ICC top honours as a batsman.
ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year ✅ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year ✅ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year ✅Captain of ICC Test Team of the Year ✅Captain of ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year ✅Let’s hear from the man himself, @imvKohli! #ICCAwards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3M2pxyC44n
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019
We saw it coming, didn’t we?
The captain of the Indian cricket team recently created history by leading the team to series wins in both ODIs and Tests in Australia, the first time in the history of Indian cricket.
This was also the first time the team came home undefeated in any series from Australia.
India’s win in Australia will inspire the next generation back home, a delighted Virat Kohli has said. #AUSvIND➡️ https://t.co/y9kDCdA4UP pic.twitter.com/Qf0QtFhtJ2
— ICC (@ICC) January 7, 2019
He faced criticism for being too aggressive.
He faced criticism for making wrong calls on the selection front.
He didn’t say much. And we now know why.
What’s commendable is, he didn’t let captaincy affect his personal batting performance.
He ended 2018 as the highest scoring Test batsman with 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08.
🇮🇳 @imvKohli has been named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for the first time!He was the top run-scorer in Tests with 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08, with centuries in each of South Africa, England, India and Australia.➡️ https://t.co/ROBg6RI4aQ#ICCAwards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GVBBYndUwg
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019
As for ODIs, he scored 1,202 runs this year, while becoming the fastest cricketer to reach the milestone of 10,000 in the process.
For the second year running, @imVkohli is the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year! 👏He scored 1,202 ODI runs in 2018 at a stunning average of 133.55. He also became the fastest to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in the format.➡️ https://t.co/ROBg6RI4aQ#ICCAwards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/m2CPb0vIGF
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019
Overall, he scored 2,735 runs in 2018 and that’s just plain crazy.
37 matches, 47 innings.2,735 runs at an average of 68.37.11 centuries, 9 fifties.What a year for @imvKohli! He wins the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2018! 🙌➡️ https://t.co/ROBg6RI4aQ#ICCAwards 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oeSClhcfJQ
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019
The pressure of captaincy can get to anyone but Virat didn’t just handle it nicely, he handled it with excellence beyond our understanding.
