Suryakumar Yadav win big at ICC awards

2024.01.25

Suryakumar Yadav has won the men’s T20I cricketer of the year award for the second consecutive year after a fantastic 2023 campaign in which he concluded as the best run-scorer in T20Is among Full Member nations. To win the prize, he defeated rivals Sikandar Raza, Alpesh Ramjani, and Mark Chapman.

After scoring just 7 against Sri Lanka to begin the year, Suryakumar went on to score 51 (36) and 112 not out (51) in the next two games. In the format thereafter, the middle-order batter rose from strength to strength. He participated in 17 T20I innings overall in 2023, scoring 733 runs at 48.86, including two hundreds and five half-centuries. More significantly, he kept a strike percentage of 155.95 throughout the mayhem.

Only Muhammad Waseem of the United Arab Emirates (863 in 23 innings) and Roger Mukasa of Uganda (738 in 31 innings) scored more runs than Suryakumar did at the end of the season as a hitter. Nonetheless, both hitters participated in more games than Suryakumar.

With a 56-ball century against South Africa, the 31-year-old concluded 2023 on a positive note. Suryakumar was also appointed captain of the Indian T20I team, after Rohit Sharma had opted out and Hardik Pandya was injured. He performed admirably, leading India to a 4-1 series victory at home against Australia before squaring the series at 1-1 after three games against South Africa.

Men’s developing player of the year award goes to New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra, who had a genuine breakout year, lighting up the 2023 ODI World Cup. He defeated challenges from India batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sri Lankan quick Dilshan Madushanka, and South Africa fast bowler Gerald Coetzee.

In 25 ODIs in 2023, after making his 50-over debut against Sri Lanka in March, Ravindra amassed 820 runs at an average of 41.00 and claimed 18 wickets at 46.61. Although he took five wickets and scored 91 runs in 12 T20Is, it was his exploits at the ODI World Cup that propelled him to the top.

Opening the batting for New Zealand, Ravindra had an incredible time with 578 runs at 64.22 in 10 innings. Behind Quinton de Kock (594), Rohit Sharma (597), and Virat Kohli (765), he ended as the fourth-highest scorer in the competition with two fifties and three hundreds.

“It’s undoubtedly a highly unique sensation,” Ravindra said upon receiving the honor. “It is always an honor to be recognized by the ICC for anything.

The recipient of the women’s emerging player of the year award was Australian Phoebe Litchfield.

Hayley Matthews, the captain of the West Indies, finished the year with the title of women’s T20I cricketer of the year, defeating Ellyse Perry of Australia, Sophie Ecclestone of England, and Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka.

With an average of 63.63, Matthews scored 700 runs in 14 innings, more than any other hitter. At 16.21, she too took 19 wickets. In October 2023, Matthews had an especially impressive tour to Australia, where she concluded the three-match T20I series with scores of 99*, 132, and 79. With 310 runs, she has scored the most of any player in a bilateral women’s T20I series.

After Stafanie Taylor in 2015, Matthews became the second player from the West Indies to win the honor.

Bas de Leede, who was instrumental in the Netherlands’ qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup main draw, has been awarded the men’s associate cricketer of the year title. The all-rounder concluded the season with 424 runs at 28.26, one fifty and one hundred, and 31 wickets in 16 ODIs at a pace of 28.26.

In a World Cup qualification match, van Leede went 5 for 52 against Scotland and then followed it up with a 92-ball 123 to nearly single-handedly lead Netherlands into the championship game. It was one of the most talked-about all-around performances of the year.

Queentor Abel, an all-rounder from Kenya, has won the title of women’s associate cricket player of the year. In 17 Twenty20 Internationals at 34.00 in 2023, Abel amassed 476 runs, his highest being 109 against Lesotho. With an economy of 3.81 and an average of 7.36, she also claimed 30 wickets.

@charith