India captain Virat Kohli is set to add another feather to his already illustrious cap. The 29-year-old, who has had a phenomenal past two seasons, will be presented with the prestigious Polly Umrigar award for the best international cricketer (2016-17 and 2017-18) at the BCCI Awards to be held in Bengaluru on Tuesday, June 12th 2018.
While Kohli gets top honours in the men's category, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are set to be maiden recipients of the award for best international cricketer (women) for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, respectively. (Also Read: Virat Kohli only Indian in Forbes list of world's highest-paid athletes)
The BCCI has also rechristened four awards in remembrance of Late Jagmohan Dalmiya in order to honour one of its finest administrators.
The Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy will be presented to the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker respectively in the U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy and to the Best Junior and Senior Cricketer in women’s cricket. (Also Read: Virat Kohli's wax statue unveiled at Madame Tussauds Delhi)
The BCCI has also raised prize money for nine categories by Rs. 1 lakh and the revised prize money is Rs. 1.5 lakh.
The Cricket Association of Bengal has been adjudged the best State Association owing to their consistent performances in the BCCI domestic tournaments for the 2016-17 season while the Delhi and District Cricket Association gets the prize for the 2017-18 season. (Also Read: Virat Kohli will find it tough against James Anderson in England, predicts Glenn McGrath)
"I congratulate all the winners of the BCCI Annual Awards. The last two years have been fabulous for Indian Cricket with both the men and women's teams doing very well. We are proud of their achievements and this is our small way of acknowledging their on-field efforts," CoA chairman Vinod Rai was quoted as saying in the BCCI press release.
