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List: Indian Players to Win ICC Cricketer of the Year Award (Men’s & Women’s)

Since the turn of the century, India has taken bigger strides in world cricket. And it’s not just limited to men’s game.

Women’s cricket has also gained a strong foothold in the country. With India making noise in both disciplines, players have been at the centre stage of the revolution.

Over the years, we have seen many players coming through the ranks and delivering astonishing performances. And there have been a few who have showcased their absolute best in specific time frames.

That helped them win the ICC Cricketer of the Year award, which is the highest honour in world cricket. Men’s cricketers get the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy, while women’s bag the Rachael Hayhoe Flint award.

So here are the Indian men’s and women’s players who have won the ICC Cricketer of the Year award.

Indian Men’s Players to Win ICC Cricketer of the Year Award

1. Rahul Dravid

The ICC instituted the Men’s Cricketer of the Year award back in 2004. And Rahul Dravid became the first to bag it. 

The solid batter had a stellar outing in the 2003-04 season in Tests and ODIs. Dravid accumulated 1241 runs in nine Tests at an impressive average of 95.46. His tally included three centuries and four fifties.

His form wasn’t just limited to red-ball cricket, as he netted 752 runs in 22 ODI games. He bagged seven half-centuries while averaging 41.77.


Also Read | 5 Times Rahul Dravid proved why he is called “the Wall of India”


2. Sachin Tendulkar

After bagging almost every cricket record, the men’s annual award was eluding Sachin Tendulkar. His wait was over in 2010, as he became the second Indian to win the Cricketer of the Year honour.

The Master Blaster was in tremendous form in the 2009-10 season. He amassed 674 runs in seven Tests, including five hundreds. He averaged a stunning 84.25.

Tendulkar carried his form in the ODIs, scoring 703 runs in 14 matches. This run tally also included his unbeaten double century scored against South Africa in February 2010.


Also Read | 5 Reasons Why Sachin Tendulkar is the GOAT


3. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin became the first Indian bowler and, overall, the third to claim the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy. The off-spinner was a force in his playing days, and he delivered one of his best performances in 2016.

The year saw him weave his spin magic against batters in Tests. And it wasn’t just limited to his off-spin. He also made crucial contributions with the bat.

Ashwin collected 72 wickets in 12 Tests at an average of 23.90, including his career-best figures of seven for 59. He also scored 612 runs at an average of 43.71, including two hundreds and four half-centuries.

The legendary Indian spinner bowed out of Test cricket in 2024, with 537 wickets and 3503 runs under his belt.


Also Read | Ravichandran Ashwin’s 12 Records in International Cricket


4. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is perhaps the biggest superstar India has produced after Tendulkar. The modern-day batting great has left everyone in awe with his batting mavericks.

And Kohli showed his absolute best in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018. He reached his peak with the bat, scoring runs for fun in Tests and ODIs.

The right-hand batter accumulated 1059 runs at 75.64 and 1322 runs at 55.08 in Test cricket, respectively. In both years, he slammed five tons each, including three double centuries in 2017.

Kohli’s ODI numbers were equally fantastic, scoring 1460 runs at 76.84 in 2017 and 1202 runs at a mind-boggling average of 133.55 in 2018. His tally included 12 centuries, six in each year.

That impressive run-making was enough for him to bag the ICC Cricketer of the Year award twice. In all, Kohli has won as many as 10 ICC awards thus far.


Also Read | Virat Kohli’s 7 Fabulous Records in T20I Cricket


5. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is the latest addition to this elite list. He received the top honour for his remarkable effort in 2024.

The right-arm pacer dished out a performance of a lifetime, especially in Tests. Bumrah carried the burden of India’s bowling attack on his shoulder in what was a busy year.

He racked up 71 wickets in 13 Test matches at a meagre average of 14.92. The tally included 5 five-wicket hauls, three in Australia, as he completed 200 Test wickets.

In T20Is, Bumrah helped India win the T20 World Cup with his tight spells. He struck 15 wickets in eight games at an economy rate of just 4.17.

In the meantime, Bumrah also rose to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings, becoming the first Indian pacer to reach the top.

These are the five men’s Indian cricketers to win the annual award. Now let’s take a look at their women’s counterparts.


Also Read | 5 Highest ICC Test Rating Points Achieved by Indian Bowlers


Indian Women’s Players to Win ICC Cricketer of the Year Award

1. Jhulan Goswami

In 2007, Jhulan Goswami became the first Indian women’s player to win the Cricketer of the Year award. The legendary Indian seamer enjoyed a terrific run in the 2006-07 season.

During the eligible period considered for the award, the right-arm bowler took 20 wickets in 16 ODIs. In two Tests she played against England, Goswami returned with 15 scalps, including 2 five-fors in the second match.

Goswami edged past Australia’s Lisa Sthalekar and England’s Claire Taylor to receive the top honour.


Also Read | The 10 Best Indian Women Cricketers of All Time 


2. Smriti Mandhana

Since her debut in 2013, Smriti Mandhana has been a batting sensation for the Indian women’s cricket team. She has been a consistent performer across formats.

Thanks to her incredible outings, Mandhana has bagged the award twice. She won the Rachael Hayhoe Flint Award for the first time in 2018.

The left-hand batter aggregated 663 runs in 12 ODIs at an impressive average of 66.90, including a ton and seven fifties. She capped it off with 622 runs in 23 T20Is, adding five half-centuries.

Mandhana then clinched the award again in 2021. She was in splendid form that year across three formats. She scored 244 runs in two Tests, getting her maiden Test ton.

The opener added 352 runs in 11 ODIs and 255 runs in nine T20Is to round off the year with 851 runs in 22 international games.

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Saurabh Chede

Saurabh is a cricket enthusiast who crafts content around the sport. Being from a cricket-crazy nation, he developed an unbreakable bond with the sport. When he’s not watching cricket, you’ll find him creating funny memes or watching old TMKOC episodes!

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