Despite India’s humiliating loss at Centurion which also cost them the on-going Test series against South Africa, Indians in general and captain Virat Kohli’s fans in particular have a lot to cheer about: Virat has been named the ‘cricketer’ of the year as well as the ‘best ODP player of the year’ for the year 2017.

Kohli occupies the second slot in batting in Test matches by notching up more than 900 points, thus becoming only the second Indian batsman (after the legendary opeing batsman Sunil Gavaskar did it in 1979 when he got 916 points) to be awarded 900 or more points. Kohli had 880 points prior to the second Test and his century in the first innings got him 20 points, thus taking his tally to 900 points.

Even ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar (898 points in 2002) and ‘The Wall’ Rahul Dravid (892 points in 2005) couldn’t breach the 900-points mark. Kohli also became the 31st player overall to breach this mark. Top four batsmen in the world obviously occupy the top four slots: Australian captain Steve Smith is at the first place, followed by Virat Kohli, England’s Alistair Cook and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.

Bowlers’ list is topped by England’s James Anderson (887 points) followed by South Africa’s Rabada. Ravindra Jadeja, overlooked to play the on-going Test series in South Africa, is at 3rd spot followed by India’s R. Ashwin at the fourth spot.