The Indian skipper has swept three awards given by the ICC for this year. He created history by winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year.
He has been named as the ICC men’s Test Player of the year as well as the ODI Player of the Year. He has also been named as the captain of the ICC Test as well as the ODI teams.
Virat crosses many milestones in 2018
2018 has been a remarkable year for the 30-year-old attacking batsman. He led his team to India’s first ODI series and Test series against the kangaroos. In the calendar year he scored 1322 runs at a decent average of 55.08, but most importantly this figure included five centuries.
He also amassed 1,202 runs in the ODI format of the game and included six centuries. The Indian skipper has been picked up to lead the ICC ODI and Test teams for the second season in a row.
As a young lad, he led his nation under-19 team to victory in the World Cup held in Malaysia in 2008. He was regarded as a maverick when he started his career and was involved in numerous unsavoury altercations with the audience as well as players. However his fiery temper mellowed and his wife, Anushka Sharma had a significant role in changing his nature.
In the smallest format of the game, Australian opener Aaron Finch bagged the award for the second time in succession. Another Indian, Rishabh Pant bagged the emerging player of the year for his scintillating century against England.
He is also the first Indian Wicket Keeper to achieve this landmark. He also equalled the highest number of catches in a Test, 11 catches in the Adelaide test in December.
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 🏆
— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019
ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 🏆
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 🏆
India’s superstar @imvKohli wins a hat-trick of prizes in the 2018 #ICCAwards!
➡️ https://t.co/ROBg6RI4aQ pic.twitter.com/MGB84Ct8S9
In the MRF Tyres ICC Men's ODI Team rankings, England sits on the top while India is in the second spot.
The two teams were scintillating in their all-round performance to the extent that the two-thirds of the ICC teams feature players from these nations. The teams also feature players from Bangladesh, New Zealand and Afghanistan.
Mohammad Abbas only Pakistani player in the ICC team
The ICC team also includes the fiery fast bowler from Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas who finds a place due to his excellent performance in the year 2018.
The quickie from Gujranwala took 38 wickets from just seven tests with an average of 13.76. This also includes three five wickets and a ten-wicket match haul. The breakup of his 38 wicket haul is as follows-17 wickets in the two-Test series against the Kangaroos after having picked up 19 wickets in England and Ireland in 2018.