Ravichandran Ashwin receives ‘Best Player’ award at Indian Sports Honours 2017

Ravichandran Ashwin might have been out of India’s set-up for quite a while. But, he made his presence count at the inaugural edition of the India Sports Honours 2017 set up by Virat Kohli Foundation where he received the prestigious ‘Best Player’ award.

Ashwin added one more award to decorate his trophy cabinet. Apart from him, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hardik Pandya are other two to bag the top award.

The dazzling award ceremony was jointly launched by Indian captain Virat Kohli’s foundation and businessman Sanjeev Goenka. Virat Kohli did not mark his presence for some reasons.

Ravi Ashwin won the double as he claimed the ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2016. Interestingly, he became only the second Indian cricketer after the Indian great Rahul Dravid to win the ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in the same year.

Tamil Nadu ace Ashwin also became only the third Indian cricketer after legendary Rahul Dravid and iconic Sachin Tendulkar to claim Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year.

Earlier this year, he became the first player to receive the Dilip Sardesai award twice after bagging it for his performance in the West Indies last year. He picked up 17 wickets in four Tests apart from essaying two flamboyant centuries.

Mithali Raj won the Best Player in Teamsports award in women’s list. India’s women team’s captain Mithali Raj won the Best Sportswoman in TeamSport award and also collected the award for Team of the Year on her side’s behalf.

Mithali Raj & Co. had made it to the final of this year’s World Cup in England with astute leadership traits of Mithali Raj.