Kohli voted ODI Cricketer of the Year

Virat Kohli, the India batsman, has been named the ODI Cricketer of the Year at the ICC awards function in Colombo. He was picked ahead of MS Dhoni, Lasith Malinga and Kumar Sangakkara.

During the period under consideration, Kohli played 31 ODIs and scored 1733 runs at an average of 66.65, including eight hundreds and six half-centuries. His highest score was 183, against Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

"I think I have tried to keep things as simple as possible and it's worked for me on the field," Kohli said. "This year has been a learning curve along the way from the seniors in the team. It's been an all-round effort and I'm very happy to have won this award.

"It's always nice to be recognised by the ICC, it's a great feeling, and it's the first time I've won one of these awards."

In a year in which Kohli was named India's one-day vice-captain, following a solid tour to Australia, his best innings came in must-win games for India. In Hobart, with India needing to chase down Sri Lanka's target of 321 in 40 overs to stay alive in the Commonwealth Bank Series, Kohli delivered with 133 not out of 86 balls. His unbroken 120-run stand with Suresh Raina came at 13.09 runs an over, and got India home in 36.4 overs. Three matches later, he put in a similar performance during his 183 in the Asia Cup against Pakistan - there India were chasing 330, and his knock came off 148 balls as India won with over two overs to spare. In that period, Kohli scored four centuries and one fifty in five innings.