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| Source: BCCI |
Bumrah Is Best Men's Cricketer, Mandhana Bags Women's Honour
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to host its annual awards ceremony for the 2023-24 season on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Mumbai. This prestigious event will recognize and celebrate the outstanding performances of Indian cricketers over the past year.
Top Honors:
Talismanic pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been awarded the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer in the men's category. Bumrah's exceptional performances were pivotal in India's home victories over England and Bangladesh. His remarkable consistency and precision also earned him the ICC Test and Overall Cricketer of the Year titles. Notably, the 31-year-old was the Player of the Series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, claiming 32 wickets across five Tests.
In the women's category, elegant batter Smriti Mandhana has been honored with the corresponding Polly Umrigar Award. Mandhana, recognized as the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year, amassed 743 runs in the 2024 calendar year. She set a new benchmark in women's cricket by scoring four ODI centuries in a single year and found the boundary over a hundred times, with 95 fours and six sixes. Her runs came at an impressive average of 57.86 and a strike rate of 95.15.
Special Recognition:
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024 as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 dismissals, will receive a special award honoring his illustrious career. The 37-year-old played a defining role in India's 12-year dominance in the longest format at home, contributing significantly to 18 consecutive series victories.
Emerging Talents:
Among the newcomers, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan has been recognized for the Best International Debut in the men's category. He made a quick-fire fifty against England in the Rajkot Test in February 2024 and followed it up with a counter-attacking 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, showcasing his potential as a middle-order mainstay.
In the women's category, Asha Sobhana has been honored for the Best International Debut. She delivered an impressive performance against South Africa, picking up 4/21 to help India secure a 143-run victory in their first ODI at Bengaluru in June 2024.
Additional Honors:
Mandhana will also be recognized with the Highest Run Getter in ODIs medal, having finished as the top run-scorer in 2024 with 747 runs at an average of 57.46 in 13 matches, including four centuries and one fifty.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma will receive the Highest Wickets in ODIs medal for taking 24 wickets in 13 matches, underscoring her vital role in the team's bowling lineup.
Tanush Kotian's consistent performances in the 2023-24 domestic season have earned him the Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments trophy. The 26-year-old all-rounder scored 502 runs in 10 matches at an average of 41.83, including one century and five fifties, and also claimed 29 wickets, contributing significantly to Mumbai's 42nd Ranji Trophy win.
Lifetime Achievement:
Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has been chosen for the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his unparalleled contributions to Indian cricket.
The BCCI Annual Awards continue to serve as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional contributions of cricketers, embodying excellence, dedication, and passion for the sport.
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