The ICC has finally released the nominees for the prestigious ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award but much to the surprise of many fans, two of the biggest stars in world cricket, Babar Azam and Virat Kohl are missing from the list.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s introducing ODI attack, and Virat Kohli have been imperious in the format for over a few years now. Babar Azam, the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2021 and 2022, has begun accumulating heaps of appreciation for his elegant batting and ability to stick at the crease. However, Kohli, an aggressive player with the hunger to score big and dominate bowling attacks, has established his credibility as one of the best ODI players who ever existed.
The 2024 Nominees
The nominees for this year’s award are reflective of growing young talent and continued excellence in the ODI game. The list includes:
Shubman Gill (India): India’s young opening batsman has come to the party this year and kept scoring heaps and bounds of runs. That has made him a performer because he is capable of building innings as well as responding to the details of the match.
- David Warner (Australia): The hard-hitting Australian opener has not disappointed with his continued FREE FLOW WITH BAT and power over Bowlers. Warner has been involved in the major feats of Australian cricket this year.
- Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan): Pakistan’s bowling has been strengthened by the breakneck speed of the pacers which has helped them deliver crucial bowling performances. His skills and string of wickets at the opportune time have been a key feature for Pakistan in the tournament thus far.
- Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand): The young cricketer has proved obligatory for the New Zealand side. He has provided the team with an option of both batting and bowling, which has enriched the team.
What the Snub Means
The exclusion of Babar and Kohli has left fans and analysts discussing different things. Although Babar maintained good statistics, some people have complained that in crucial games, especially during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2024 he struggled. In the same vein, Kohli could not maintain the high level he had set when he occasionally displayed moments of brilliance out in the middle.
This year’s nominations bring a focus on the players who fringe beneficiaries the most but who have also had significant parts in their teams’ successes. Perhaps this is the reason why the ICC selection criteria have not included the naughtiness of Bartman in high-profile tournaments or before powerful bowling attacks.
The Road Ahead
Despite this might be a disadvantage to Babar and Kohli, it is a wake-up call of how the landscape of the One Day Internationals cricket has transformed. I do not doubt that both players will hope to bounce back in the subsequent editions of the tournament proving why they are considered modern legends.
