ICC awards 2017: Five contenders for ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award

With the Women's awards winners just being awards, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will soon announce the winners of the 2017 ICC awards for men as well. Indian captain Virat Kohli looks set to dominate the honours and it is no surprise that he makes the list of the five contenders for ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award.

Reigning ODI Cricketer of the Year Quinton de Kock just misses out, as does his compatriot and Proteas captain Faf du Plessis. Both players exceeded expectations but just miss out on making the cut. Also missing the cut, are Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan's Babar Azam despite averaging over 70 in the voting period.

The voting period for taking into account players' performance is between 21 September 2016 till 31 December 2017. So only performances within that period have been considered.

So let us take a look at five possible contenders for ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma registered his third ODI double century during this period

Some players wear the captain's armband with pride and it elevates their performance to a level many deem impossible. Although it was just a short-term measure, Rohit Sharma took to captaincy like a duck to water as he scored a match-winning double century in the second ODI against Sri Lanka and became only the second ODI captain to achieve that feat.

In the voting period, Rohit Sharma is one of only five players to score in excess of 1,000 ODI runs. In fact, his tally of 1,416 runs is only bettered by two players as the right-hander aims to become the third Indian to receive this award after MS Dhoni (2008 and 2009) and Virat Kohli (2012).

During the voting period, Rohit has scored 1,416 runs at an average of over 60 and a strike rate of 97.11 with six centuries and six fifties. Only three players (Babar Azam, Virat Kohli and David Warner) have scored more centuries and no one has scored more sixes (51).

Rashid Khan

Rashid has flourished against different opponents on various conditions

The leading ODI wicket-taker in the voting period hails from Afghanistan. Rashid Khan, who has taken international cricket by storm continued his impressive performances and he is the leading wicket-taker in ODIs during the voting period. In fact, he is the only bowler to have picked up 50 ODI wickets during that period.

The 19-year-old leg spinner has an incredible 50 wickets from just 19 matches, including his career-best figures of 7/18 against West Indies at St Lucia. Of the 18 matches in which he bowled during that period, he finished wicketless in just one match.

He has picked up wickets against Bangladesh in Bangladesh, against Zimbabwe in their own turf and West Indies away from home.

Hasan Ali

Hasan Ali was simply sensational in the Champions Trophy

One of the main reasons behind Pakistan's maiden Champions Trophy triumph was the performance of Hasan Ali. The 23-year-old fast bowler, who made his debut against Ireland in August 2016 was simply sensational and is a strong contender for not just the ODI Cricketer of the Year award but also the Emerging Cricketer of the Year award.

During the voting period, only one bowler (Rashid Khan) picked up more wickets in ODIs and the right-arm pacer's exploits in the Champions Trophy not only led Pakistan to the title but also helped finish as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and soon afterwards become the No.1 ranked ODI bowler in the world.

In the 21 ODIs that he featured in, he finished with 48 wickets with an average of just under 18 and an economy rate of 4.91.

David Warner

Warner's ODI career has simply gone through the roof

Since the 2015 World Cup, David Warner has simply taken ODIs by storm. He has made giant strides in the format and become one of the most consistent players and it is no surprise to see him in the running for the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award.

Among the batsmen who have scored in excess of 800 runs in ODIs during the voting period, no one has scored more centuries (7) or has a better strike rate (108.37). He even broke his own career-best score twice in ODIs in just over three months between October 2016 and January 2017.

Although he played just 22 ODIs, he still finished with 1,424 runs, which is the second-best of any player in that period and averaged an incredible 67.80 with a strike rate of 108.37. He also scored seven centuries and two fifties.

With numbers like that, in any other year, he would be the front-runner to get the award, but this around, he isn't.

Virat Kohli

Kohli is looking down on his competition as he looks to bring home another award

And the reason why Warner isn't the front-runner is because of Virat Kohli. A man who seemingly has world records for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A player who has shattered far too many records that he has now even begun to give statisticians nightmares.

Why is Kohli the front-runner for the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, you ask? Well, let me just make the numbers do all the work.

In 31 ODIs, he has scored 1,818 runs at an average of 82.63 and strike rate of 99.45 with seven centuries and nine fifties. In that period, no batsman has scored more fours (166) and only three have scored more sixes than his 26.

So it is fair to say that purely on numbers, Kohli deserves to walk away with the award. But that doesn't even take into account the fact that he was made full-time captain in ODIs earlier this year and has already led India to the Champions Trophy final.