Virat Kohli makes history with ICC awards sweep

ajike January 22, 2019

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 30: Virat Kohli of India looks on during day five of the Third Test match between Australia and India at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 30, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

India captain Virat Kohli made history with a clean sweep of three major ICC awards on Tuesday.

After enjoying an incredible 2018, Kohli was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year, Men’s Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year.

The 30-year-old becomes the first player to win all three top awards, while he was also named captain of the Test and ODI teams.

Kohli scored 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08 in 13 Tests last year, while he managed 1,202 at an average of 133.55 in 14 ODIs.

Well & Truly, The King
ICC Cricketer of the Year
ICC Test Player of the Year
ICC ODI Player of the Year #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/krtf1ucIPF

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 22, 2019
“It feels amazing. It’s a reward for all the hard work that you do throughout the calendar year. I feel really grateful and very, very happy with the team doing well at the same time as myself performing,” he said.

“Having recognition at the global level from the ICC is something you feel proud of as a cricketer because you understand that there are many players playing the game.

“To be rewarded in this manner is obviously a very proud moment for me and something that gives you more motivation to keep repeating the same things because you have to keep the standard of cricket up and keep bringing in consistent performances.

“From that point of view, these awards give you that extra motivation.”

South Africa paceman Kagiso Rabada finished second to Kohli for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – awarded to the Cricketer of the Year – and for the Test prize.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was runner-up for the ODI award.

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
Cricketer of the Year: Virat Kohli (India)
Test Player of the Year: Virat Kohli (India)
ODI Player of the Year: Virat Kohli (India)
Emerging Player of the Year: Rishabh Pant (India)
Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Smriti Mandhana (India)
Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year: Alyssa Healy (Australia)
Test Team of the Year: Tom Latham (New Zealand), Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Virat Kohli (c) (India), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Henry Nicholls (New Zealand), Rishabh Pant (wk) (India), Jason Holder (West Indies), Nathan Lyon (Australia), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan).
ODI Team of the Year: Rohit Sharma (India), Jonny Bairstow (England), Virat Kohli (c) (India), Joe Root (England), Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Jos Buttler (wk) (England), Ben Stokes (England), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Kuldeep Yadav (India), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Jasprit Bumrah (India).