ICC unveils the first set of nominees for ICC awards. 4 players including Suryakumar are in the race for bagging the award of ICC men’s T20I player of the year
The world has entered the new year. Say goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024. In the first week of January, the cricket world looks back at the best moments of the past year. The highest governing body of cricket, ICC, is no exception. They are also announcing the names of the best players in the three formats based on their performance in 2023.
India’s Suryakumar Yadav has made it to the list of the best in T20. The devastating batsman was named the T20 Cricketer of the Year 2022. He also replaced Mohammad Rizwan at the top of the batsmen’s rankings. Even in 2023, he did not move from his position. Retains the ranking. This time he is in the race to retain the title of the best cricketer.
Surya’s show in 2023
In 2023, Suryakumar Yadav got the opportunity to wear the jersey of India in three formats of Test, ODI and T20 cricket. He scored only 9 runs in a Test match against Australia. He played 21 matches in ODIs and scored 389 runs at 21.60. The number of half-centuries is only 2. He also has the precedent of making zero in three consecutive innings.
Suryakumar has not been in the best rhythm in the two longer formats, but he has dominated in T20. He established himself as the brightest star in the sky of T20 cricket. The beginning of the year was not good for him. He scored 7 runs in the first match against Sri Lanka. But handled quickly. In the next two matches in that series, he scored 51 and 112 runs respectively.
The way he led the team to victory in a tough 22 yards test at Lucknow revealed a different style of play from ‘Mr 360’. Then Surya’s innings of 83 runs from 44 balls also came against the West Indies. In an eventful year, he got the opportunity to lead India for the first time in T20 cricket.
He made his captaincy debut memorable with a blistering 80-run innings against Australia. India won the series 4-1 against the Aussies. He then scored a half-century in the first of two matches against South Africa. He ended the year with an outstanding century in Johannesburg. His impressive statistics put Surya in the race for the ICC Player of the Year.
Top 4 nominees for the ICC award
Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe is also in the race to be the best of the year with the Indian superstar. The all-rounder scored 512 runs at an average of 51.50 in 12 matches. He also took 17 wickets with the bowling average of 14.33. He may have a tough fight with Suryakumar Yadav.
Apart from Surya and Raja, the four named by the ICC are Uganda’s Alpesh Ramani. Uganda has qualified for the main stage of a major ICC tournament for the first time in history. They will be seen in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Alpesh has a big role behind this success. He picked up 55 wickets in 30 matches and his bowling average is just 8.98. On the other hand, he has 449 runs at an average of 29 in 30 matches with the bat. He can be a surprise in the race for the best of the year.
The fourth name on the list is Mark Chapman. The young New Zealand cricketer scored 576 runs in 21 matches with an average of 45 in the match. There are 1 century and 4 half centuries.
