“Watching Virat bhai win… I will never forget”: Shubman Gill

India’s emerging cricket talent, Shubman Gill, was honored with the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer in the Men’s Category for the year 2022-23. Gill’s outstanding performance in the 2022-23 season saw him score 1325 runs in 25 matches, with his highest score being 208 in an ODI match against New Zealand.

Expressing his gratitude for the award, the 24-year-old Gill reflected on his journey and the motivation this recognition brings. He mentioned how he had visited the award ceremony venue when he was just 14 years old, meeting his cricket idols and legends for the first time. He also recalled witnessing Virat Kohli win the Cricketer of the Year award, which left a lasting impact on him. Gill sees this award as pure motivation to take his game to the next level and give his all for the country in the upcoming year.

In addition to Shubman Gill, other cricketers who received this prestigious award in previous years include Mohammad Shami for the year 2019-20, Ravichandran Ashwin for the subsequent year, and Jasprit Bumrah for the year 2021-22. These awards recognize outstanding performances by Indian cricketers on the international stage.

The award ceremony also featured the presentation of the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award to former India cricketers Ravi Shastri and Farokh Engineer. This prestigious recognition celebrates their contributions to Indian cricket. The awards were presented by the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Roger Binny, and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.