Virat Kohli was made captain of the ICC’s Test and ODI Teams of the Year
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India’s Virat Kohli was named captain of the ICC’s Test and ODI Teams of the Year for 2017.
Kohli, who was named ICC Cricketer of the Year, ODI Cricketer of the Year and Captain of the Year, broke numerous records in 2017 and put up multiple jaw-dropping performances in all three formats.
What makes the achievement even more special is the fact that this is the first time Kohli has been included in the ICC’s Test Team of the Year. However, it is the fourth time he has been part of the ODI Team of the Year as he achieved the same feat in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Aside from Kohli, Australia opener David Warner, England all-rounder Ben Stokes and South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock are the only other players to feature in both teams.
The Test Team of the Year consists of players from four countries. Representing South Africa are De Kock, Dean Elgar and Kagiso Rabada, while three Australian players – Warner, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc also made the cut. Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin are the three Indian players in the side, while Stokes and James Anderson are the two England players that were bestowed with the honour.
Meanwhile, the ODI Team of the Year was comprised of players from seven different countries, with Rashid Khan being from Afghanistan, Warner from Australia and Stokes from England.
Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were the Indian players in the squad, while Trent Boult was the only New Zealand player to make the cut. Two Pakistani players – Babar Azam and Hasan Ali – and two South African players – De Kock and AB de Villiers – found a place in the side.
ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2017 (in batting order):
- Dean Elgar (South Africa)
- David Warner (Australia)
- Virat Kohli (captain) (India)
- Steve Smith (Australia)
- Cheteshwar Pujara (India)
- Ben Stokes (England)
- Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper) (South Africa)
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
- Mitchell Starc (Australia)
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
- James Anderson (England)
ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2017 (in batting order):
- David Warner (Australia)
- Rohit Sharma (India)
- Virat Kohli (captain) (India)
- Babar Azam (Pakistan)
- AB de Villiers (South Africa)
- Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper) (South Africa)
- Ben Stokes (England)
- Trent Boult (New Zealand)
- Hasan Ali (Pakistan)
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
- Jasprit Bumrah (India)