Virat Kohli completes hat-trick, named Wisden’s ‘Leading Cricketer’ for third straight year

Virat Kohli, who scored only 134 runs during India’s previous tour of England in 2014, amassed 593 runs in his side’s five-test series last year at an average of over 59 to book his place on the list.

India captain Virat Kohli was named the ‘Leading Cricketer in the World’ for the third time in a row in this year’s edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, the publication said on Wednesday.

FILE PHOTO: India's captain Virat Kohli lifts the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they celebrate a 2-1 series victory over Australia following play being abandoned in the fourth test match between Australia and India at the SCG in Sydney, Australia, January 7, 2019. (REUTERS)

Kohli, 30, was also named as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year along with England’s Jos Buttler and Sam Curran, County Championship-winning captain Rory Burns and Tammy Beaumont from the England women’s team.

Kohli, who scored only 134 runs during India’s previous tour of England in 2014, amassed 593 runs in his side’s five-test series last year at an average of over 59 to book his place on the list.

“Despite finishing on the losing side, India captain Virat Kohli shone with the bat, laying to rest his struggles in England in 2014,” Wisden editor Lawrence Booth said.

“His test batting, especially in England, was magnificent, while his 50-over form moved to a new level, if that was possible.”

Kohli, who also won the ICC’s cricketer, test and one-day international player of the year awards in January, scored 2,735 runs across all three international formats in 2018 at an average of 68.37, which included 11 centuries.

India’s Smriti Mandhana, who scored 1,291 runs in limited overs, was named the Leading Cricketer in the women’s game while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan was named the Leading Twenty20 Cricketer for the second consecutive year.