The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday revealed the first individual award winners in the ICC Awards 2024 in which India’s Arshdeep Singh was named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year and New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr was crowned the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.

In a pair of hotly contested categories, both players emerged victorious after a prolific year of international competition that saw them make historic contributions in their respective World Cup-winning campaigns.

Left arm pacer Arshdeep enjoyed sustained success throughout the year in the shortest format, and peaked during a sensational stint at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June, topping the wicket-taking charts as India surged to glory in the West Indies and USA.

With 36 wickets in T20Is in 2024 at a stunning average of 13.50, Arshdeep ended a supreme year as the third highest wicket-taker in the format. The same was just one behind Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 37 wickets in 2022, albeit Arshdeep’s numbers came in merely 18 games as compared to Bhuvi’s 32.

The 25-year-old contributions in India’s T20 World Cup winning-campaign undoubtedly best illustrate his impact on the international stage in 2024. Combining fearsome pace with expert control with the swinging ball to take 17 wickets in the USA and West Indies with consistent economical performances at the death on a variety of surfaces. Arshdeep figures of two for 35 against Ireland and four for nine against the USA came in the group stages before three wickets in each of the statement wins against Afghanistan and Australia followed in the Super 8s.

Arshdeep arguably best performance at the biggest stage of all, came in the edge of the seat thriller against South Africa.

As part of a pace trio with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya that effectively won the game for India, Arshdeep with his deft control in the death overs and finished his four over spell with figures of two for 20 that swung fortunes back in favour of India, who went on to claim a dramatic seven-run victory in Barbados while defending a score of 176 for 7 at Bridgetown, West Indies.

Either side of the Men’s T20 World Cup, Arshdeep also starred with more outstanding bowling displays in series wins over Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Overcoming fellow nominees Babar Azam, Travis Head and Sikandar Raza, Arshdeep’s win ensures the award goes to India for the third year in a row, following his teammate Suryakumar Yadav’s back-to-back success in 2022 and 2023.

A beaming Arshdeep Singh who recently also became the leading wicket-taker of all time in T20I cricket with 97 wicket for India following his two wickets haul against former World Champions England in the first of the five match series  said, “I am delighted to win the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024 award. The shortest format of the game poses various challenges for bowlers but I consider it as an opportunity to test my skill set and provide success with the ball for my team. 2024 was indeed a great year individually and collectively for us as a unit. Winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was surreal and I am glad I could contribute to a successful and memorable World Cup campaign for my country”.

He  further added, “There is no bigger motivation than representing the nation at the biggest stage. I am extremely excited for the journey ahead and I am looking forward to giving my best for the team.”

All-rounder Kerr meanwhile made history of her own, not only by setting a new record for most wickets -15 from her six games in a single ICC Women’s T20 World Cup that was played at UAE. Her standout performance in the ICC event came against Trans-Tasmanian rivals Australia against whom she once again picked up a four-fer in albeit a losing cause. It was her great all-round display when she became the first woman to score 40-plus runs (43) and take three or more wickets (3/24) in a T20I knockout match, that saw her country New Zealand triumphed in a spectacular final against South Africa in October for their maiden title in the shortest form of the game.

Nominated for the award alongside Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu and South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, the 24-year-old Amelia Kerr on her accolades said, “It's a huge honour to win the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award. With it being a T20 World Cup year ( Player of the Final), this format was really important. I love the responsibility that the White Ferns have given me and the teammates I have around me who back me, and it's a team I love playing for.”

Photo Cover: Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh was named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year (Photo courtesy BCCI)

Photo Above: White Ferns all-rounder Melie Kerr played a key role in New Zealand’s maiden ICC T20I World Cup success was named the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award (Photo courtesy ICC).