The year 2023 was one of the most eventful years of the World Cup. Fans across the globe witnessed the World Test Championship final, Asia Cup, and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Fans experienced some thrilling moments throughout the year. In the World Cup, India had an amazing season. After the year ended, the ICC declared their nomination for ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023. Team India is conquering the list. Shubman Gill, Mohammad Shami, Virat Kohli, and Daryl Mitchell are nominated for the award.
- Mohammad Shami:
The year 2023 was named after Mohammad Shami’s excellence after the World Cup 2023. Despite missing the initial games, Shami roared back into the XI, ending as the top wicket-taker with 24 wickets at an incredible average of 10.7. Remarkably, he bagged three five-wicket hauls and a four-wicket haul in seven matches. Shami also set a new record as India’s leading World Cup wicket-taker, reaching 55 wickets in just 18 games. His incredible journey added a special touch, starting from being out of the first-choice XI to making a significant impact in India’s march to the World Cup final on home turf.
Shami’s standout moment in the World Cup was his phenomenal 7/57 against New Zealand in the semi-final. He dismantled the Kiwi top order, grabbing openers and crucial wickets like Williamson and Latham in quick succession. Shami not only shattered the backbone of New Zealand’s innings but also showed no mercy, dismissing Mitchell for 134 and cleaning up the tail.
- Shubman Gill:
Shubman Gill showcased his prowess in international cricket, marking 2023 as his coming-of-age period. The ODI format became his playground, amassing 1584 runs at an impressive average of 63.36. His run tally stands as the fifth-highest for an Indian in ODIs in a single year. Gill’s five centuries, coupled with a strike rate exceeding 100, established him as a solid force at the top order alongside captain Rohit Sharma.
Adding to his stellar year, Gill became the youngest double centurion, unleashing a remarkable 208 against New Zealand in Hyderabad. Shubman Gill made a striking impact at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, notching up 354 runs with an impressive average of 44.25. Despite a delayed start due to dengue fever, the opener bounced back strongly, marking his return with a half-century against Bangladesh. Throughout the tournament, Gill showcased his consistency with four fifties, including an unbeaten 80 where he battled cramps but returned in the final over.
- Virat Kohli:
Virat Kohli, building on his 2022 comeback, delivered a stellar 2023, reaching peak form in ODIs. His pinnacle was winning the Player of the Tournament title at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The Indian number three smashed at least a half-century in nine out of 11 innings, accumulating a staggering 765 runs. This set a new record for the most runs by an individual batter in a men’s Cricket World Cup, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 2003 record.
Virat Kohli etched his name in history, reaching a record 50 ODI centuries, making him the leading century-maker in the format’s illustrious history. The pinnacle of this achievement came in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Stepping in after Rohit Sharma‘s dismissal, Kohli showcased his brilliance, staying unflinching until he marked his 50th century in the format, creating a historic moment in the knockout clash.
- Daryl Mitchell:
Daryl Mitchell had a stellar run in ODIs throughout 2023, concluding the year with an impressive 1204 runs. This ranked as the third-highest tally in a calendar year by a New Zealand player. While starting modestly in a bilateral series against Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, Mitchell’s performance took a stunning turn with consecutive centuries in Pakistan in April.
Adding another century in England, Mitchell reserved his peak form for the World Cup, emerging as New Zealand’s crucial middle-order anchor, especially in the absence of Kane Williamson for a significant part of the tournament. In the Dharamsala league game, Mitchell played a hero’s role by crafting a vital 130 off 127 balls. Walking in when the team was struggling at 19 for 2, Mitchell faced a tricky situation. Despite minimal support towards the end of New Zealand’s innings, he single-handedly propelled them to a respectable total. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to secure the win.
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