Producer: Peuli Bakshi
India’s Virat Kohli has been honoured with the prestigious title of the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023 on January 25, 2024.
He was previously named the player of the tournament at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, for his outstanding performance in the 50-over series.
“The Indian batter had a superb year with the bat, culminating in a record tally of runs at the home World Cup,” ICC said in a press note.
Virat Kohli built on his comeback in 2022 with a spectacular 2023, and found his peak form in ODI World Cup 2023.
He smashed at least a half-century in 9 of his 11 innings at the World Cup, finishing with a mind-blowing 765 runs, the most ever scored by an individual batter at a Men’s Cricket World Cup.
With that, the 35-year-old broke the previous all-time record of 673 runs set by Sachin Tendulkar in 2003.
Kohli finished the tournament with an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31, with 3 centuries, including 1 in the semi-final against New Zealand.
India’s No.3 completed a record tally of 50 ODI hundreds with his knock in the semi-final, making him the leading century-hitter in the format’s history.
With that, Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar in another all-time category. Sachin previously had the highest ton record in ODIs with 49 hundreds.
He finished the year with 1377 runs at an average of 72.47, recording 6 centuries and 8 half-centuries in 24 innings, showcasing his batting prowess.