Sportskeeda Awards 2014: Best Performance of the Year nominees

The year 2014 saw a number of great performances in sport that saw sportsmen break not only the norm but also records in the process. We take a look at some of the most special performances by individuals in the major sporting events that took place in the past year.From one of footballs most glorious events to some sublime performances Down Under, to dominating the hardwood in Loud City to the deserts of Bahrain here are the nominees for the Best Performance of the Year.Please VOTE for who you think should win the award at the end of the slideshow.

#1 Cricket: Virat Kohli\'s twin centuries vs Australia

With MS Dhoni unfit to start the first test in India’s tour of Australia, Virat Kohli was named the stand-in captain and he almost stood up and delivered in his first test as captain. Australia put up a daunting total of 517 in the first innings before declaring. India put up a fight with batsmen like Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane getting 50s. But they were unable to capitalize on promising starts.

But Kohli stood tall and scored a crucial 115 which kept India in the game and took India to 444. Australia replied and put up 290 on the scoreboard (David Warner also scored back-to-back centuries in the match) to give India a stiff target of 364. This time Murali Vijay kept Kohli copany on the middle until he fell on 99. Kohli took India closer to the target with an Indian win very much possible while he was still at the crease.

But a lofted shot to deep midwicket saw Kohli fall after making a magnificent 141, thereby shattering any hopes of a comeback as the Australian bowlers cleaned up the Indian tail to win the match by 48 runs. Kohli’s performance was lauded by one and all and he set a number of records in the process, especially for a plaayer on his captaincy debut.

#2 Tennis: Stanislas Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Q/F

Wawrinka Djokovic — Stanislas Wawrinka (R) celebrates winning his quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic during the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park

Novak Djokovic is a four-time winner of the Australian Open and had won the title for three years in a row between 2011 and 2013. And when he faced Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-final, nobody expected an upset. After all, the Serb was on a 25-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.

Just a year ago, Djokovic had outlasted Wawrinka in a five-setter, prevailing 12-10 in the final set in a match that lasted a little over five hours. What’s more, Wawrinka had also lost 14 staright matches against the Serb.

But this time, in a matter of four hours, the Swiss sensation stunned fans around the world when he took apart Djokovic piece-by-piece in a thrilling fixture. Although he lost the first set 2-6, he stormed back into the match taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-2 before Djokovic took one back in the fourth winning 3-6. The final set was another marathon as the Swiss finally came out on top winning 9-7, thereby denying Djokovic the chance to win a fourth straight Australian Open title.

Wawrinka would eventually go on to win his first Grand Slam title beating Thomas Berdych in the semi-final and the No.1 seed Rafael Nadal in the final.

#3 Basketball: Russell Westbrook\'s triple-double vs Grizzlies (West Conf Playoffs)

One of the most engaging playoff series in 2014 was the battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies in the very first round. It was a series that went all the way down to the seventh game and also saw four games go into overtime.

With the series tied at 3-3, the Thunder were seeking revenge after they were dumped out of the playoffs the previous season by the Grizzlies. Westbrook was ruled out the previous year with a meniscus injury, but he made sure he was the difference in Game 7 with a commanding performance at both ends of the court.

Although Kevin Durant was the top scorer with 33 points, Westbrook led the team with a phenomenal triple-double scoring 27 points, tallying 16 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds. The 16 assists in one game was also a franchise record (tying Nate McMillan’s tally in 1987). It was also Westbrook’s second triple-double in three games.

One player last 30 years with a 25-pt, 15-ast, 10-reb, 60% FG playoff game. Russell Westbrook today.
— Chris Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) May 4, 2014

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The OKC Thunder reached the Conference Finals that year, losing to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs.

#4 Football: Angel Di Maria vs Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final

Angel Di Maria Champions League Final Man of the Match — Angel Di Maria with Sir Alex Ferguson who presented him with the Champions League Final Man of the Match award

2014 was a World Cup year in football, but none of the performances in Brazil came close to challenging Angel Di Maria’s exhilerating performance in Lisbon. On the grandest stage in European club football, the speedy Argentine winger showcased his quality to help Real Madrid achieve La Decima – their 10th European crown. and proved why Manchester United were right to break their transfer record and dish out nearly £60m to secure his services and bring him to the Premier League.

Di Maria was easily the best player on the pitch that night. For most of the game, he looked to be the best bet to either score or provide for his teammates in a game where Los Blancos struggled to beat a resolute Atletico Madrid defence. He even had a shot on goal that was blocked by Thibaut Courtois 11 minutes from time.

With a Sergio Ramos header ensuring that the match went into extra time, Di Maria took advantage of a tired Rojiblancos defence, taking shots and sending in cross after cross. It was his shot that found Gareth Bale who headed in to give Real Madrid the lead. Skipping past three defenders and into the box with a lung-busting run, the winger’s shot was deflected off Courtois and looped into the air for Bale to head home.

At the end of the match, Di Maria had 126 touches (2nd highest) and 23 crossed (the highest in the game).

#5 Golf: Rory McIlroy wins the British Open

Rory McIlroy British Open 2014 — Rory McIlroy victorious with the Claret Jug trophy after winning the British Open

The 2014 British Open went right down to the wire on the final day at Hoylake with Rory Mcilroy, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler all in with a shot at taking the Claret Jug home. After two rounds where he scored 66, the third round initially saw McIlroy go six shots clear of the American Fowler before the final round.

On the final day, tensions rose as McIlroy and Garcia battled it out, with the Northern Irishman making mistakes that allowed both Garcia and Fowler to claw back into the race. But as he reached the end of the course, McIlroy found his groove and had a three-shot lead when he reached the 18th hole.

He almost lost the plot when his second shot fell in the bunker, but he held his nerve to finish the final hole with a par five to finish on -17. Both Garcia and Fowler finished on -15 to give McIlroy his first Open Championship.

Thus, McIlroy became only the third golfer to win three modern majors by the age of 25, joining the elite company of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. He only needs to win the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam.

#6 F1: Lewis Hamilton wins the Bahrain Grand Prix

The year 2014 was the dawn of a new era in Formula One with numerous changes to the cars and the rules. Gone were the 2.3L V8s and in came the new 1.6L turbocharged V6s. And it was Mercedes who swept the competition aside with a superior car and two immensely talented drivers in Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Of the 19 races, the two Mercedes drivers won a combined total of 16, with only Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo winning the three other races.

At the Bahrain International Circuit, Rosberg had taken pole position in qualifying while Hamilton started second on the grid. But it was the British driver who took the lead at the start and maintained his lead over the German. By the end of the final round of pit stops, Hamilton had a comfortable lead and looked all set to cruise to the chequered flag.

But with 10 laps to go, Pastor Maldonado and Esteban Gutierrez came together forcing the race officials to deploy the safety car, effectively erasing Hamilton’s 10-second gap. And with Rosberg on the softer compound tyres after his final pit stop, a thrilling battle was on the cards. But a determined Hamilton held on with a supreme display of defending skills to keep the German at bay and took his car to the finish line to claim his second victory of the season.

Hamilton would go on to win his second drivers’ championship after winning the final race of the season.

With inputs from Gaurab Sinha.

#7 Hockey: India\'s Sreejesh keeps Pakistan at bay in Asian Games final

P R Sreejesh Asian Games Hockey Gold — P R Sreejesh takes a selfie after guiding India to the Asian Games Hockey Gold with a penalty shootout victory over Pakistan

It had been 16 years since India had won a gold medal in hockey at the Asian Games, and they had their chance in Incheon, South Korea when they came up against arch rivals Pakistan. Known to be a powerhouse during the golden age of Indian hockey, thanks in part to eight Olympic gold medals, the team desperately needed a win to bring the sport's popularity back on track.

What better to stir up some interest in the game than a match against Pakistan in a major final? The match was a see-saw affair with both teams going at it from the starting hooter. Pakistan took the lead as early as the 4th minute when Muhammed Rizwan scored. But India took away their advantage with a goal in the 28th minute thanks to Kothajit Singh. India’s goalkeeper P R Sreejesh was called into action a number of times and made a crucial save when Pakistan had a short corner.

With both sides unable to break the deadlock in regulation time, the match went into a penalty shootout and this was where Sreejesh rose to the occasion. India’s Akashdeep Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra and Dharamvir Singh scored in the shootout while Pakistan’s Abdul Haseem Khan and Umar Bhutta’s attempts were thwarted by Sreejesh, giving India a 4-2 win and the gold.

After the medal ceremony, for a full 45 minutes, Sreejesh was mobbed by Indian fans who all wanted to congratulate their hero in the penalty shootout.