Virat Kohli received his ICC ODI Player of the Year award and was also selected for the 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 ICC Instagram handle posted a video on Saturday morning showing Virat being given his trophy and cap, acknowledging his incredible performance in 2023.
The 35-year-old reached another significant peak in his illustrious career in 2023, after some years of inconsistent form and struggles for big 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 played a crucial role in India’s Asia Cup 2023 triumph, scoring an unbeaten 122* in 94 balls against arch-rivals Pakistan in a critical Super Four stage game. Later, in the ODI World Cup held last year at home, Virat delivered an outstanding campaign, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, with three centuries, six half-centuries, and a best score of 117. He ended the tournament as the top scorer, setting a record for the most runs in a single World Cup edition, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 673 runs from the 2003 WC. He also broke Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centuries, scoring his 50th ODI ton against New Zealand in the semifinals.
Now, Virat will take to the field in Indian colors for the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and USA. He enters 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 was 113*.
