(Image Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up to host the NAMAN Awards on Tuesday, January 23, coinciding with the start of India’s first Test in the five-match series against England in Hyderabad. This annual ceremony recognizes standout performances in Indian cricket from the previous year.
Recent reports indicate that Shubman Gill will be honored as the Cricketer of the Year in the Men’s category, acknowledging his impressive international performance throughout 2023. Additionally, former Indian cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Shubman Gill had a remarkable 2023, playing 48 matches and scoring 2,154 runs with an average of 46.82. His achievements include seven centuries and ten fifties across formats, and he earned the Orange Cap in the 2024 Indian Premier League with 890 runs for the Gujarat Titans.
Ravi Shastri, who represented India in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs, scored over 3,000 runs in each format and took 280 wickets in his international career. As coach, he led India to notable successes, including the 2021 World Test Championship final, the 2019 World Cup, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the historic victory in the Gabba Test against Australia.
The NAMAN Awards are returning for the first time since 2019, delayed due to the limited cricket played during the COVID-19 pandemic. BCCI’s social media shared behind-the-scenes glimpses of the event preparations in Hyderabad, revealing that local star Harsha Bhogle will be hosting. The event will also feature prominent figures from both men’s and women’s Indian cricket teams.
In 2023, the Indian team had significant successes, finishing as runners-up in both the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup, and showed strong performances in bilateral series, winning the majority of their matches.