India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, on Tuesday, won the coveted International Cricketer of the Year award at the CEAT Cricket Rating International awards 2017, reported PTI. The award was presented to Ashwin by former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar and Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, at a function held at the Cricket Club of India.
Ashwin was the wrecker-in-chief during the home season, where India won 10 of their 13 Tests played against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia and has taken 99 wickets during the past year.
Meanwhile, young batsman Shubhman Gill won the Young player of the year award for his fine displays during the India-England U-19 One-day International series, played in Mumbai. Speaking on the occasion, Ashwin recalled that his first autograph which he had taken was from Gavaskar at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai.
Ashwin also praised 17-year-old Tamil Nadu off-spinner Washington Sundar for his impressive show in the recently concluded Indian Premier League while playing for Rising Pune Supergiant. “Washington did really well in the Vijay Hazare trophy. I had heard from a couple of people that he is doing well. He has got good idea of how to bowl in T20s and to ball with the new ball is a massive challenge.
“The first scar which you will inflict will always have value and he initially bowled well. The pace and the length which he hit was very very critical,” Ashwin said.
