"It has been an amazing year," Kohli said.
Indian captain Virat Kohli who has become the first player in history to win all three major ICC honours has said that he feels 'very, very happy' at the recognition by the world body of his and the team's efforts in what has been an extraordinary year for Indian cricket. The 'King' has also been selected as captain of both the Test and ODI teams picked annually by the International Cricket Council.
Kohli scored 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08 with five centuries in 13 Test matches for India. He also scored 1,202 runs in 14 ODIs, including six centuries.
"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," Kohli told the ICC.
"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."
"It has been an amazing year," Kohli said. "I was able to play in a manner that I would not have imagined."
The teams were picked by the ICC's voting academy, which is comprised of former cricketers, and members from media.
Kohli finished 2018 as the No. 1 batsman in both Tests and ODIs, while India ended the year as the top-ranked Test team and No. 2 behind England in the ODI rankings.
India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah also featured in the Test XI. And Bumrah is the only other player, in addition to Kohli, who made both the Test and ODI teams.
Three New Zealanders — captain Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls and opening batsman Tom Latham — were picked in the Test team. Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Jason Holder (West Indies), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Nathan Lyon (Australia) and Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan) completed the test squad.
"This looks like an individual piece of recognition, but it is much more about the team," Williamson said.
Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma and spinner Kuldeep Yadav made it on the ODI squad. It also included England's Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Top-ranked bowler Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, Mustafizur Rehman (Bangladesh) and Ross Taylor (New Zealand) were named in the ODI team.
(With AP inputs)
