Shubman Gill gets nostalgic after bagging Polly Umrigar Award
In a heartwarming social media post, emerging Indian cricket sensation Shubman Gill took a trip down memory lane after clinching the Polly Umrigar, India’s Best Cricketer of 2022-23 award at the BCCI Annual Awards in Hyderabad.
The 2023 season proved to be a standout year for Gill, as he not only emerged as India’s top run-scorer in ODIs but also etched his name in the record books with five centuries, also joining the elite list of cricketers with double centuries, boasting an impressive aggregate of 1584 runs at a stellar 63.36 average.
Sharing a throwback picture from his 14-year-old self meeting his cricketing idol Virat Kohli, Gill’s Instagram post exuded nostalgia.
“So much nostalgia, from coming here when i was 14 and meeting my idols and legends for the first time. Watching Virat bhai win cricketer of the year was something I would never forget. Pure motivation for me to go a step further and give everything for my country this year,” he expressed on Instagram with heartfelt sentiments.
The BCCI Awards, a long-awaited event since 2019, saw the presence of the Indian cricket team, set to face England in an upcoming Test series. The ceremony also hosted England’s head coach Brendon McCullum and his team members, including Paul Collingwood. Gill, gearing up for the upcoming Tests against England, is all set to don the Indian jersey once again.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award was claimed by spinner Deepti Sharma for her stellar performance in the 2022-23 season. Deepti’s impactful bowling played a pivotal role in India’s convincing triumph over England in the one-off Test, where she not only scalped nine wickets for 39 runs but also contributed significantly with the bat, making a crucial fifty.
The ceremony also paid tribute to cricketing stalwarts, with former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer and Ravi Shastri receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Shastri, a key figure in India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad and the Player of the Series during their 1985 World Series triumph, reflected on his illustrious journey in the sport.
