The Indian batsman scored seven hundreds in 2019, with five of those coming in the World Cup.
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Photo: BCCI/Twitter
Indian batsman Rohit Sharma has been named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for his spectacular performances in 2019, the International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday.
Five World Cup centuries is a special effort!
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2020
Listen to @ImRo45 talk about his 2019 in ODI cricket.#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/MCFDwW87Hu
The Indian limited-overs vice-captain amassed 1,409 runs in the last calendar year at an astonishing average of 57.30 and was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 World Cup as well. Rohit Sharma, an Icon Player in the first season of the T20 Mumbai league, smashed five centuries at the 2019 World Cup in England, setting a new record for scoring the most hundreds in the history of the showpiece event.
His tons came against South Africa, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with four of those knocks coming in victorious causes.
5️⃣ #CWC19 centuries
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2020
7️⃣ ODI centuries in 2019
Your 2019 ODI Cricketer of the Year is Rohit Sharma.#ICCAwards pic.twitter.com/JYAxBhJcNn
The 32-year-old continued to shine post the World Cup as well, emerging as the leading run-scorer in the three-match home series against the West Indies, getting a century and a fifty in that tournament. For recording these incredible numbers, Rohit Sharma was also named in the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year for 2019 positioned as an opener.
"I would like to thank the ICC for giving me this award and the BCCI for giving me the opportunity to represent the country," Rohit Sharma said. "It is great to be recognised in this fashion."
On Thursday, the BCCI announced their Annual Player Contracts for Team India for the period from October 2019 to September 2020, in which Rohit Sharma bagged the A+ Grade contract which amounts to ₹7 crores as per the payment structure.
"I don't move from the television screen when he (Rohit) is batting," hailed former Pakistan batsman Zaheer Abbas recently. "His batting gives me real satisfaction and watching him play is pure bliss.
"I admire the way he creates a shot and plays where he wants to. He picks up the ball very early and that is special," he added.
Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, was handed a Grade A contract worth ₹5 crores while Shardul Thakur and Shreyas Iyer were given a Grade C contract amounting to ₹1 crore.
The ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award goes to none other than the HITMAN for his stupendous show with 5 centuries in the ICC Cricket World Cup and 7 ODI centuries in 2019. pic.twitter.com/xCCUYozQRw
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2020
