Kohli to be honoured with Polly Umrigar award, Ashwin nominated for Dilip Sardesai award

INDIA SKIPPER Virat Kohli has been named for the prestigious Polly Umrigar award while veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to receive the Dilip Sardesai award at the BCCI annual awards, which is slated to be held on March 8.

Kohli, who first received the award in 2012 and in 2015, will become the first Indian cricketer to earn the award on three occasions. In a statement released by BCCI, it mentioned, 

"Team India captain Virat Kohli will be presented with the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award, given to the International Cricketer of the Year, at the BCCI Annual Awards to be held in Bengaluru on March 8." 

Interestingly, Ashwin, who won the Dilip Sardesai award in 2011, will also become the first Indian cricketer to receive the honour twice. The Chennai lad, who is leading the ICC charts for both bowlers as well as all-rounders, was adjudged as the ICC cricketer of the year in late 2016. The BCCI further stated, 

"R. Ashwin will also become the first Indian cricketer to receive the Dilip Sardesai award twice. The all-rounder first won the award instituted to honour the best performance in the bilateral Test series between India and West Indies after being named the Man of the Series in the three-match Test series in 2011." "In the four-match Test series last year, Ashwin again picked up the Man-of-the-Series award for his outstanding show. In four Tests, he scored two centuries and picked 17 wickets including two five-wicket hauls."

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