26th CEAT Cricket Awards 2024: Celebrating Excellence in Cricket [Current Affairs]

The CEAT Cricket Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in the cricketing world, held its 26th edition on August 21, 2024, in Mumbai. These awards, initiated in 1995-96 and sponsored by the RP Goenka Group company CEAT Tyres, honor exceptional performances of cricketers globally. The 2024 ceremony recognized outstanding achievements during the 2023-24 cricketing season, showcasing the best talents across various formats of the game.

Major Awards and Recipients

International Cricketer of the Year

Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian men’s cricket team, was bestowed with the coveted CEAT International Cricketer of the Year Award. This recognition came on the back of his exemplary performance in the 2023-24 season, during which:

• Sharma amassed approximately 1800 runs in international cricket.
• He scored 597 runs in the 13th ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup.
• Under his leadership, India reached the World Cup final, ultimately finishing as runners-up to Australia.

Sharma’s consistent performance and leadership skills were key factors in his selection for this prestigious award.

ODI Batter of the Year

Virat Kohli received the award for the Best ODI Batter of the Year, following a phenomenal season in One Day Internationals. His achievements include:

• Scoring 1377 runs in the 2023-24 season.
• Accumulating six centuries and eight fifties.
• Leading the run charts in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 765 runs at an astounding average of 95.62.
• Surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record by scoring his 50th ODI century.

Kohli’s exceptional form and milestone achievements made him the clear choice for this award.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rahul Dravid, former Indian cricket captain and current coach of the Indian men’s cricket team. Known as “The Wall” for his impeccable defensive technique, Dravid’s recent coaching success includes:

• Leading India to victory in the 9th ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Barbados.
• Guiding the team to a triumph over South Africa in the final.

This award recognizes Dravid’s immense contribution to Indian cricket, both as a player and a coach.

Other Notable Awards

Test Cricket

• Test Batter of the Year: Yashashvi Jaiswal
• Test Bowler of the Year: Ravichandran Ashwin

ODI Cricket

• ODI Bowler of the Year: Mohammad Shami

T20 Cricket

• T20 Batter of the Year: Phil Salt (England)
• T20 Bowler of the Year: Tim Southee (New Zealand)

Domestic Cricket

• Domestic Cricketer of the Year: Sai Kishore (Left-arm spinner from Tamil Nadu)

Women’s Cricket

• Women’s Batter of the Year: Smriti Mandhana
• Women’s Bowler of the Year: Deepti Sharma

Special Recognitions

Several players and administrators received special mementos for their unique achievements:

• Harmanpreet Kaur: For captaining the most matches in Women’s T20I history.
• Shreyas Iyer: For outstanding leadership in the TATA IPL.
• Shafali Verma: For scoring the fastest double century in Women’s Test Match cricket.
• Jay Shah: Awarded for excellence in sports administration as the BCCI Secretary.

Significance of the CEAT Cricket Awards

The CEAT Cricket Awards have become a benchmark for excellence in cricket over the past 26 years. They serve multiple purposes:

1. Recognition: Acknowledging the hard work and achievements of cricketers across formats and genders.
2. Motivation: Inspiring players to strive for excellence in their performances.
3. Historical Record: Creating a chronicle of cricketing excellence year after year.
4. Promotion of Cricket: Enhancing the sport’s profile and celebrating its stars.