Star India batter Virat Kohli received his ICC ODI Player of the Year award and was also selected for ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2023 in New York as his side prepares to play the T20 World Cup opener against Ireland on June 5. The official handle of ICC took to Instagram on Saturday morning to post a video of Virat being given his trophy and cap, in acknowledgement of an incredible 2023 he had with the bat.
The 35-year-old witnessed another massive peak of his illustrious career in 2023, after some years of inconsistent form and struggle for massive scores. In 27 ODIs, he scored 1,377 runs at an average of 72.47 and a strike rate of 99.13, with six centuries and eight fifties in 24 innings. His best score was 166*.
He was instrumental in India’s victory in the Asia Cup 2023, hitting an undefeated 122* in 94 balls against Pakistan in a pivotal Super Four stage match.
Later on in the home ODI World Cup last year, Virat produced an all-time performance, amassing 765 runs at an average of 95.62 in 11 matches, including three hundreds, six half-centuries, and the highest score of 117.
He broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs set in the 2003 World Cup by finishing the tournament as the top scorer and scoring the most runs in a single World Cup edition. In the semifinals, he achieved his 50th ODI ton against New Zealand, surpassing Sachin’s previous record of 49.
Now, Virat will take to the field in Indian colours for the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in West Indies and USA. He comes into this tournament after winning the Orange Cap for most runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring 741 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of over 154, with a century and five fifties. His best score of 113*.
