Virat Kohli, the renowned Indian batsman, has once again been honored with the prestigious ICC ODI Player of the Year award for the fourth time. This recognition comes as a result of his exceptional performance during the World Cup 2023, where he shattered records and showcased his remarkable skills. Kohli had previously secured this accolade in 2012, 2017, and 2018, solidifying his position as one of the finest cricketers in the world. Furthermore, he has also been shortlisted as one of the four nominees for the highly coveted ICC Cricketer of the Year 2023 award. Notably, Kohli’s achievement of winning the ICC ODI Player of the Year award four times surpasses the previous record held by AB de Villiers, who had received this honor three times. Kohli’s remarkable comeback in 2022 paved the way for his outstanding performance in 2023, particularly in the ODIs, culminating in his exceptional display at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where he was named the Player of the Tournament.
In an impressive display of skill and determination, India’s No.3 batsman delivered exceptional performances throughout the World Cup, scoring a minimum of fifty runs in nine out of his eleven innings. His outstanding total of 765 runs surpassed the previous record set by Sachin Tendulkar in 2003, making him the highest individual run-scorer in the history of the men’s Cricket World Cup. Kohli’s average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31 further exemplified his exceptional form. Notably, he achieved three centuries, including a crucial one in the semi-final against New Zealand, which greatly contributed to India’s journey to the finals. Despite India’s unfortunate loss in the final, Kohli’s remarkable performance throughout the tournament earned him the well-deserved title of Player of the Tournament.In the year 2023, Kohli experienced a remarkable resurgence in his form, accumulating an impressive total of 2,048 runs in 36 international innings.
This outstanding achievement made him the highest run-scorer in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Although India faced disappointment in the final, Kohli’s exceptional contributions secured him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. Additionally, his tally of eight centuries across different formats in 2023 surpassed the leading run-getter, Shubman Gill, by one century. Both Kohli and Gill were the only cricketers to surpass the 2,000-run mark in international cricket, with Gill showcasing his dominance in ODIs by accumulating an impressive total of 1,584 runs.
Significantly, he exceeded Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable achievement of the highest number of One Day International (ODI) centuries during the World Cup, reaching the significant milestone of becoming the inaugural cricketer to score 50 centuries in 50-over cricket.