The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) illuminated the sky of cricket achievements by hosting its prestigious BCCI Annual Awards in Hyderabad on January 23, 2024. The much-anticipated event honored cricketing stalwarts for their remarkable performances in various categories throughout the 2019-2023 seasons. Notably, epic figures such as Shubman Gill, Ravi Shastri, Smriti Mandhana, and Jasprit Bumrah were in the spotlight, receiving significant accolades for their contributions to the sport.
Ravichandran Ashwin, the master spinner, clinched the Dilip Sardesai Award for being the highest wicket-taker in the 2022-23 Test series against the West Indies. Ashwin also received the Polly Umrigar Award for the best international cricketer of the year, marking the second time in his illustrious career that he has earned this distinction. Mohammad Shami, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah were recognized as the best international cricketers for the seasons of 2019-20, 2022-23, and 2021-22 respectively.
In the women’s cricket arena, the exceptional Kashvee Gautam, who made history by being the most expensive player in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), was awarded the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for the Best Women Cricketer (Jr Domestic). The event also celebrated the achievements of Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma among other leading sportswomen.
Ravi Shastri and Farokh Engineer, two pillars of Indian cricket, were honored with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Awards, recognizing their indelible contributions to the sport. Yashasvi Jaiswal and R Ashwin were individually accoladed for scoring the most runs and taking the most wickets, respectively, in the 2022-23 Test series against West Indies.
Further accolades were distributed across various domestic categories, acknowledging the profound depths of talent in Indian cricket. Rishi Dhawan, Baba Aparajith, and Riyan Parag were distinguished for their all-round capabilities, while Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, and Saurashtra won awards for their performances in BCCI Domestic Tournaments. Umpire Vrinda Rathi was among the exemplary individuals honored for her domestic umpiring skills.
Shubman Gill stood out as the exceptional Polly Umrigar Best Men’s International Cricketer for 2022-23. His impressive batting display in the ODIs included five centuries, which helped him quickly amass over 2000 runs in the format. Deepti Sharma was acknowledged as the International Women’s Cricketer of the Year for the 2022-23 season for her match-winning performance in the recent Test victory over England.
Emotions ran high as Shastri received his Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting on his journey from playing to coaching, and his roles in India’s World Cup and World Series victories, as well as back-to-back Test series wins in Australia. The awards encapsulated the past performance and excellence that have elevated Indian cricket to its current status, with a firm gaze toward the future as young stars like Jaiswal and Amanjot Kaur emerged on the international stage with their debut recognitions. In all, the BCCI Awards served as a testament to the hard work, dedication, and sheer talent that runs deep in Indian cricket’s veins.