Virat Kohli receives ODI Player of the Year 2023 award ahead of T20 World Cup

NEW YORK: Ahead of the much anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India’s top batter Virat Kholi received his ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023 trophy and the ICC men’s ODI Team of the Year 2023 cap.

As Kohli’s side gets ready for the T20 World Cup fixture against Ireland on June 5, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has shared photos of the marquee batter posing with the prestigious trophy along with the ODI Team of the Year 2023 cap.

In the pictures, Kohli can be seen rocking India’s new ICC T20 World Cup jersey while he poses for the camera. He can be seen smiling while holding the award. In a second snap, Kohli can also be spotted holding his Team of the Year cap.

The 35-year-old was announced as the winner of the esteemed award over his exceptional performance in the 50 overs format last year, including the ODI World Cup.

The batting maestro scored 1,377 runs at an average of 72.47 and a strike rate of 99.13 with six centuries and eight half-centuries in 24 innings last year. After some years of inconsistent form and struggle for massive scores, Virat Kholi managed to produce big tons in the year 2023 with his best score at 166*.

In the ODI World Cup held last year at home, Virat was named the Player of the Tournament, as he delivered an all-timer campaign, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, with three centuries, six half-centuries and the best score of 117.

Kohli also achieved a milestone to his name when he completed a record 50 ODI hundreds with his knock against New Zealand in the semi-final, making him the leading century-hitter in the history of ODI cricket breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons.