Australia captain Pat Cummins reserved high praise for the star Indian duo of Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Cummins won the ICC ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award for 2023, pipping Kohli, Jadeja and his teammate Travis Head to the price. Cummins had a sensational year across formats as he led Australia to the World Test Championship (WTC) title, as well as the ODI World Cup, beating India in both the finals. Cummins reflected on a successful year for Australian cricket and expressed his gratitude on being recognised as the best of the best in 2023.
“It’s a huge honour. It has been a big year, lots of wonderful team success. To get this individual honour is huge and I am pretty amazed. In terms of individual accolades, it is right up there,” Cummins told ICC.
Cummins hailed Kohli and Jadeja as ‘consistent performers’ who can bail their team out of trouble.
“Kohli and Jadeja are super consistent, you can’t keep them out of it, they find a way to drag their team out of trouble & win it, to be alongside those guys has been really special,” he added.
After a lean patch with the bat between 2019 and 2022, Kohli stormed back to his absolute best in 2023. The former India captain was the leading run-getter in the ODI World Cup, amassing 765 runs at an average of 95.62 in 11 matches.
The 35-year-old bagged the Player of the Tournament award, as well as the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023.
Jadeja, on the other hand, was named in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2023. He scored 281 runs at an average of 35.12 and taking 33 wickets at an average of 19.39.
Kohli recently pulled out of the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match series against England, citing personal reasons.
Meanwhile, Jadeja picked five wickets in the first Test against England and also top-scored for India with a brilliant 87 in the first innings.
However, India lost the game by 28 runs as England went 1-0 in the series.
Jadeja, however, is doubtful for the second Test in Vizag after pulling up his hamstring.
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