CEAT Cricket Awards Honor Top Performers

The prestigious CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) Awards 2024 took center stage on Wednesday, August 21, in Mumbai, celebrating the best talents in the world of cricket. Now in its 26th year, the CEAT Awards have become synonymous with excellence, recognizing the exceptional performances of cricketers across the globe since their inception in the 1995-96 season.

The Inaugural Award: A Tradition of Greatness

The tradition of excellence at the CEAT Awards began with its first Player of the Year award, which was won by West Indian legend Brian Lara. This set the tone for the awards, which have since become a coveted honor in the cricketing world. Virat Kohli, a pillar of Indian cricket, holds the record for the most Player of the Year awards, having claimed the title four times. Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan, with three awards to his name, also stands tall among cricket’s legends.

 

Full List of Winners

This year’s CEAT Awards continued the tradition of celebrating outstanding cricketing talent. Here is the complete list of winners who illuminated the night with their remarkable achievements:

• Men’s International Cricketer of the Year: Rohit Sharma, the Indian Test and ODI captain, was honored for his outstanding performances across formats. His leadership and batting prowess, especially in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was the second-highest run-scorer, were key to India’s success.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Rahul Dravid received this prestigious award for his monumental contributions to Indian cricket, both as a player and as a coach.
• Men’s ODI Batter of the Year: Virat Kohli, known for his consistency and brilliance, was recognized for his exceptional performance in ODIs, including equaling Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in the ODI World Cup.
• Men’s ODI Bowler of the Year: Mohammad Shami was celebrated for his 24 wickets in the 2023 World Cup, highlighting his ability to perform under pressure.
• Men’s Test Batter of the Year: Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a remarkable 712 runs against England in a five-Test series, was awarded for his outstanding contribution in the Test format.
• Men’s Test Bowler of the Year: Ravichandran Ashwin continued to showcase his mastery in Test cricket, earning this award for his crucial role in India’s Test victories.
• Men’s T20I Batter of the Year: England’s Phil Salt was recognized for his dominance in the shortest format of the game.
• Men’s T20I Bowler of the Year: New Zealand’s Tim Southee received this award for his remarkable performances in T20Is.
• Domestic Cricketer of the Year: R Sai Kishore was honored for leading Tamil Nadu to the Ranji Trophy final last season, underlining the importance of domestic cricket in developing future stars.
• Women’s Indian Batter of the Year: Smriti Mandhana was celebrated for her exceptional performances in Indian women’s cricket.
• Women’s Indian Bowler of the Year: Deepti Sharma took home this award, recognizing her contributions with the ball.
• Outstanding Leadership in IPL: Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title, was acknowledged for his leadership skills.
• Fastest Double Century in Women’s Test Cricket: Shafali Verma was recognized for her record-breaking double century against South Africa, achieved in just 194 balls during the Chennai Test earlier this year.
• Special Recognition: Harmanpreet Kaur, India women’s team skipper, was presented with a memento for captaining the country in the most T20I matches.

 

This year’s ceremony was a grand affair, with the cricketing fraternity gathering to honor the top performers in the sport. The highlight of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to the legendary Rahul Dravid. Dravid, who has left an indelible mark on Indian cricket as both a player and a coach, was met with a standing ovation as his illustrious career and contributions were celebrated. His journey from a dependable batsman to a coach who led India to T20 World Cup glory in June was lauded as one of the greatest cricketing legacies.

The CEAT Awards 2024 once again showcased the best of cricket, honoring the players who have made significant contributions to the sport. With a legacy spanning over two decades, these awards continue to be a benchmark of excellence in the world of cricket.