ICC Cricket Awards 2018: Virat Kohli becomes the first player to win all three major awards

Following a remarkable run of form in 2018, India captain Virat Kohli has become the first player to win all the three major awards. The International Cricket Council (ICC) have named the star batsman as Men's Test Player of the Year, ODI Player of the Year as well as the winner of the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year.

Aside from clinching all the three top individual awards, Kohli has also been named the captain of ICC's Test Team of the Year as well as ODI Team of the Year.

"It feels amazing. It’s a reward for all the hard work that you do throughout the calendar year. I feel really grateful and very, very happy with the team doing well at the same time myself performing. Having recognition at the global level from the ICC is something you feel proud of as a cricketer because you understand that there are many players playing the game", a delighted Kohli told icc-cricket.com.

The 30-year-old added, “To be rewarded in this manner from amongst all of them is obviously a very proud moment for me and something that gives you more motivation to keep repeating the same things because you have to keep the standard of cricket up and keep bringing in consistent performances. From that point of view, these awards give you that extra motivation.”

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 🏆ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 🏆ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 🏆India’s superstar @imvKohli wins a hat-trick of prizes in the 2018 #ICCAwards! ➡️ https://t.co/ROBg6RI4aQ pic.twitter.com/MGB84Ct8S9

— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2019

Kohli had previously won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year as well as ICC's ODI Player of the Year award for his impressive showing in 2017. However, Australia skipper Steve Smith had taken home the ICC's Test Player of the Year award.

In 2018, Kohli amassed 1322 runs from 13 Tests at a remarkable average of 55.08 with five centuries. He also piled on 1202 runs from 14 ODIs at a colossal average of 133.55 with six centuries. In T20Is, the right-hander scored 211 runs from ten matches.

South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was revealed to be the runner-up for both Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year award as well as the ICC Test Player of the Year honours. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan came in as the runner-up for the ICC ODI Player of the Year award.

Voting panel for the awards: Javed Hamid Kakar, Emal Pasarly (Afghanistan); Lisa Sthalekar, Andrew Wu, Mike Hussey (Australia) Utpal Shuvro, M. Farid Ahmed, Athar Ali Khan (Bangladesh); Julian Guyer, Lawrence Booth, Nasser Hussain (England); Deep Dasgupta, Sunandan Lele, Jasvinder Sidhu (India); Ian Callendar, Barry Chambers (Ireland); Mark Geenty, Ian Smith (New Zealand); Peter Borren (Netherlands); Ramiz Raja, Abdul Mohi Shah, Mazhar Arshad, Bazid Khan (Pakistan); Shaun Pollock, Neil Manthorp, Firdose Moonda (South Africa); Saroj Pathirana, Russel Arnold, Rex Clementine (Sri Lanka); Peter Della Penna (USA), Ian Bishop, Barry Wilkinson, Vinode Mamchan (West Indies); Trisan Holme, Mehluli Sibanda and Mpumelelo Mbangwa (Zimbabwe)