The people's choice
The Electrolux Indian Cricketer of the Year will be chosen through a peoples' choice vote
Wisden Cricinfo staff
29-Oct-2003
The Electrolux Indian Cricketer of the Year was chosen through a peoples' choice vote. All performances from September 2002 to August 2003 were considered. The results are:
The Winner
Rahul Dravid
Dravid was his usual reliable self, featuring in many vital rescue operations. But his greatest contribution to India's successful one-day campaigns was his willingness to double up as wicketkeeper, which allowed India the luxury of seven batsmen. At The Oval against England, he saved India with an epic 217 in the last Test; in the Champion's Trophy, he, along with Mohammad Kaif, kept India alive in the first match against Zimbabwe with a doughty 75. He then chipped in with a hundred in the first Test against West Indies, and rounded things off in the World Cup with vital halfcenturies against England and Pakistan.
Rahul Dravid
Dravid was his usual reliable self, featuring in many vital rescue operations. But his greatest contribution to India's successful one-day campaigns was his willingness to double up as wicketkeeper, which allowed India the luxury of seven batsmen. At The Oval against England, he saved India with an epic 217 in the last Test; in the Champion's Trophy, he, along with Mohammad Kaif, kept India alive in the first match against Zimbabwe with a doughty 75. He then chipped in with a hundred in the first Test against West Indies, and rounded things off in the World Cup with vital halfcenturies against England and Pakistan.
Tests M6 R496 HS217 Av62.00 100s2 50s1
ODIs M30 R854 HS109* Av47.44 100s1 50s5
ODIs M30 R854 HS109* Av47.44 100s1 50s5
The other nominees
Sourav Ganguly
Ganguly was among the top run-getters in the World Cup, with three centuries - though closer examination will reveal that all these came against weak opposition. His other one-day century came in a grudge match against England in the Champions Trophy, but even here he was overshadowed by Virender Sehwag. But Ganguly is in the reckoning more for his inspirational leadership which took India to the finals of the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. Ganguly's biggest strength has been his ability to rouse the young members of his side to their full potential, and under him India have acquired a new toughness and stomach for combat.
Sourav Ganguly
Ganguly was among the top run-getters in the World Cup, with three centuries - though closer examination will reveal that all these came against weak opposition. His other one-day century came in a grudge match against England in the Champions Trophy, but even here he was overshadowed by Virender Sehwag. But Ganguly is in the reckoning more for his inspirational leadership which took India to the finals of the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. Ganguly's biggest strength has been his ability to rouse the young members of his side to their full potential, and under him India have acquired a new toughness and stomach for combat.
Tests in 2002-03 M6 R129 HS51 Av14.33 50s1
ODIs in 2002-03 M32 R1090 HS117* Av43.60 100s4 50s5
ODIs in 2002-03 M32 R1090 HS117* Av43.60 100s4 50s5
Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan has only gotten better and better. He was easily India's best new-ball bowler of the season and, who knows, if Ganguly had won a couple of tosses in New Zealand, Zaheer could well have bowled India to a series victory. In India, he was impressive in the Tests against West Indies, bowling an incisive spell to restrict them in the first innings at Mumbai. His one-day performances were top-class right through: his opening spells were always testing and he was superb at the death, bowling a fuller length and slipping in the odd slower ball. He had a superb World Cup till Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden spoilt his party in the final.
Zaheer Khan has only gotten better and better. He was easily India's best new-ball bowler of the season and, who knows, if Ganguly had won a couple of tosses in New Zealand, Zaheer could well have bowled India to a series victory. In India, he was impressive in the Tests against West Indies, bowling an incisive spell to restrict them in the first innings at Mumbai. His one-day performances were top-class right through: his opening spells were always testing and he was superb at the death, bowling a fuller length and slipping in the odd slower ball. He had a superb World Cup till Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden spoilt his party in the final.
Tests M5 W21 BB5-29 Av18.19 5W/I2
ODIs M26 W40 BB4/19 Av21.45
ODIs M26 W40 BB4/19 Av21.45
Virender Sehwag
Sehwag scored five breathless hundreds in the season, none more devastating than his 104-ball 126 against England in the Champions Trophy, where he scattered fast bowlers with the freedom of a batsman practising big shots in the nets. Against West Indies at Mumbai he scored his first Test century at home, a blazing 147 that laid the platform for India's win. Two other one-day hundreds came in New Zealand, in a series where no other batsman crossed into triple figures. His World Cup was moderate: he got plenty of starts, but wasted most of them; his best innings came in the final, in a losing cause.
Sehwag scored five breathless hundreds in the season, none more devastating than his 104-ball 126 against England in the Champions Trophy, where he scattered fast bowlers with the freedom of a batsman practising big shots in the nets. Against West Indies at Mumbai he scored his first Test century at home, a blazing 147 that laid the platform for India's win. Two other one-day hundreds came in New Zealand, in a series where no other batsman crossed into triple figures. His World Cup was moderate: he got plenty of starts, but wasted most of them; his best innings came in the final, in a losing cause.
Tests M6 R338 HS147 Av33.80 100s1 50s1
ODIs M35 R1274 HS126 Av39.81 100s4 50s5
ODIs M35 R1274 HS126 Av39.81 100s4 50s5
Mohammad Kaif
Kaif was at the forefront of a most astonishing Indian fightback in the final of the NatWest Series against England at Lord's when, with Yuvraj Singh for ebullient company, and a combined age of 41 to ward off the demons of failure, Kaif compiled an innings of quite staggering certainty. His very next outing, against Zimbabwe in the Champions Trophy, produced a similar blend of audacity and industry to rescue India from an equally bleak situation. And though his scores fell away during the World Cup, his reflexes and athleticism in the field were a vital component of India's march to the final, as typified by his pick-up-and-swoop from mid-on to run out Nick Knight in the group match at Durban.
Kaif was at the forefront of a most astonishing Indian fightback in the final of the NatWest Series against England at Lord's when, with Yuvraj Singh for ebullient company, and a combined age of 41 to ward off the demons of failure, Kaif compiled an innings of quite staggering certainty. His very next outing, against Zimbabwe in the Champions Trophy, produced a similar blend of audacity and industry to rescue India from an equally bleak situation. And though his scores fell away during the World Cup, his reflexes and athleticism in the field were a vital component of India's march to the final, as typified by his pick-up-and-swoop from mid-on to run out Nick Knight in the group match at Durban.
ODIs M 35 R 620 HS 111* Av 24.80 100s 1 50s 2
No Tests played between September 2002 and August 2003.
No Tests played between September 2002 and August 2003.
Yuvraj Singh
Tall, domineering and with a straight drive like a golf swing, Yuvraj is the answer to a million mid-innings collapses. For so long, India's exalted batting line-up has been a top-heavy affair, frequently lacking in ballast at the crucial moments. That accusation stands no longer. With Yuvraj striding to the crease at No. 6, no cause is ever lost, and few 21-year-olds can express their intentions with such princely eloquence. Yuvraj has passed fifty on 13 occasions in one-day internationals. No fewer than 12 of these have resulted in an Indian victory, the most remarkable of which was probably the triumph in the NatWest final. He is the epitome of a new breed of Indian cricketer, unencumbered by past failures and fired by the optimism of youth. When Yuvraj is on song, India dances to the refrain.
Tall, domineering and with a straight drive like a golf swing, Yuvraj is the answer to a million mid-innings collapses. For so long, India's exalted batting line-up has been a top-heavy affair, frequently lacking in ballast at the crucial moments. That accusation stands no longer. With Yuvraj striding to the crease at No. 6, no cause is ever lost, and few 21-year-olds can express their intentions with such princely eloquence. Yuvraj has passed fifty on 13 occasions in one-day internationals. No fewer than 12 of these have resulted in an Indian victory, the most remarkable of which was probably the triumph in the NatWest final. He is the epitome of a new breed of Indian cricketer, unencumbered by past failures and fired by the optimism of youth. When Yuvraj is on song, India dances to the refrain.
ODIs M 33 R 726 HS 102* Av 31.56 100s 1 50s 6
No Tests played between September 2002 and August 2003.
No Tests played between September 2002 and August 2003.