The three awards former Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara won for his brilliant performances in all formats of the game during the 12-month voting period were indeed well deserving. It is a given that Sangakkara is a legend of the game, but the recognition from ICC has given him an exalted status that is very much his. Sangakkara’s record during the period chosen for the awards was unmatchable – 1,444 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 60.16, with five centuries and as many half-centuries, and 1,457 runs in ODIs, with three tons to go with it. In addition, Sangakkara also gathered 39 catches and effected three stumpings, which game him a further edge over other competitors.
The other contenders for the Cricketer and Test Cricketer of the Year award, namely South Africa's Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander, and Australian captain Michael Clarke, also came up with outstanding performances during the period in review. However, two knocks played by the Lankan giant outdid them. One was the innings in the Durban Test, when Sangakkara almost single handedly kept Sri Lanka in the game with a stoic knock, before Rangana Herath ran through the South African batting line-up. Sangakkara’s fighting innings set-up a historic win for Sri Lanka in Durban, their first ever in Sri Lanka, an achievement that would have been impossible without Sangakkara’s contribution.
The second effort that strengthened the fluent Lankan left-hander’s claim for the awards was his painstaking double century against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi. Sri Lanka were in all sorts of trouble when Sangakkara walked in to bat. However, he occupied the crease for hours, and even as Pakistan bowlers tried their level best to dislodge him, it seemed they had run into a wall that would not collapse at all. In the end, Sri Lanka were successful in saving the game, and Pakistan had to make do with a draw despite dominating the Test.
The only bright spot for India during a horrendous last season was the sublime form of Virat Kohli. And this was reflected in the fact that he was the only winner from TeamIndia. Kohli had an unbelievable run in ODIs during the voting period for the awards – 1,733 runs in 31 ODIs at an average of 66.65, with eight hundreds and six half-centuries. The figures seem too good to be true. Such amazing consistency is achieved once in a blue moon, and even Sangakkara would agree that Kohli deserved the ODI Player of the Year Award more than him.
That Kohli scored so many runs during the 12-month period was amazing in itself. But, the manner and circumstances under which they scored make his achievements phenomenal. On more than one occasion, Kohli single-handedly bailed India out of the woods. At Hobart, India needed to achieve a 300 plus target in 40 overs. Kohli made the implausible possible. A similar situation ensued during the Asia Cup. It would have been too much to expect Kohli to come up with something magical again. But, he did it.
World cricket is blessed to have two amazing talents like Sangakkara and Kohli – the former, it seems will leave the game on a high, and the later looks destined for greatness.
--By A Cricket Analyst
