Virat Kohli was announced Monday as the winner of two awards by the International Cricket Council: ICC ODI Men’s Cricket Player of the Decade and ICC Men’s Cricket Player of the Decade, while MS Dhoni won the Spirit of Cricket Award from the ICC decade.
The Indian cricket captain won the ODI Cricketer of the Decade award for his prolific record in 50-over format. The Indian cricket captain outpointed former captain MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Joe Root and Steve Smith among others to win the award.
Having achieved more than 20,000 races in the qualifying period, Virat Kohli also won the Sir Garfield Sobers ICC Cricketer Men’s Award of the Decade. The 32-year-old racked up 20,396 runs with an average of 56.97, the highest among players with more than 70 innings. It broke 66 hundred and 94 fifties during the period.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the announcement via Twitter, awarding the honor to Kohli, who won 66 of its 70 international hundreds, in the period of the “ICC Awards”. “My sole intention was to make winning contributions to the team and I strive to do so in every game. The statistics just become the by-product of what you want to do on the field, ”said Virat Kohli after winning the award.
“My sole intention was to make winning contributions to the team and I strive to do so every game. The statistics just become the by-product of what you want to do on the field. “
📽️ Virat Kohli reacts by winning the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Decade award for men 🙌#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/MF7LDRhg3v
– ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
Former India captain Dhoni was unanimously chosen for the ICC Spirit of Cricket of the Decade award by fans for his gesture of calling out English batsman Ian Bell after a bizarre run at Nottingham in 2011.
🇮🇳 MS DHONI wins ICC Spirit of Cricket of the decade award premio
The former India captain was unanimously chosen by fans for his gesture of calling England batter Ian Bell after a bizarre run at the Nottingham Test in 2011.#ICCAwards | #CricketSpirit pic.twitter.com/3eCpyyBXwu
– ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
Meanwhile, Australian hitter Steve Smith was named Test Player of the Decade. During the tenure, Steve Smith scored 7,040 test runs with an average of 65.79. He broke 26 hundreds and 28 fifty.
🇦🇺 STEVE SMITH is the ICC Decade Men’s Test Cricket Player 👏👏
🏏 7040 The test runs on #ICCAwards period
🅰️ 65.79 average ➜ Highest in top 50
💯 26 hundred, 28 fiftiesUnique, relentless and incredibly consistent 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UlXvHaFbDz
– ICC (@ICC) December 28, 2020
The winners of all individual awards will receive a unique artwork created in collaboration between ICC, Mumbai Kulture Shop studio and Indian artist Pratap Chalke. Rachel Heyhoe-Flint and Sir Garfield Sobers winners get a spectacular hand-painted bat, while the other individual award winners will receive a limited-edition canvas that captures their unique passion and spirit.
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