It was a night to remember for female cricket fans at the 2019 edition of the BCCI Awards. Their favorite cricketing stars walked the red carpet and took home top awards for their breakthrough performances throughout the year.
Leg spinner Poonam Yadav bagged the top prize and was adjudged the best international cricketer for the year. The prolific leggie was earlier awarded the famous Arjuna Award for her exploits with the ball. She picked up 14 wickets from eight one-day internationals during the period at 20.21 and also took 20 wickets from 15 T20Is at an average of under 19.
Teenage sensation, 15-year-old Shafali Verma was awarded the best international debutant and best woman cricketer in junior domestic cricket. Ever since her T20 debut against South Africa, her rise in the international arena has been momentous. She has established herself as a dangerous batter and brazen power hitter, someone the bowlers are always wary of. In the domestic circuit, she played 46 matches across age group categories and scored 1,923 runs at an average of 46.90 with seven centuries and five half-centuries.
Teen sensation Shafali Verma has just won JAGMOHAN DALMIYA TROPHY – BEST WOMAN CRICKETER (JR DOMESTIC) OF 2018-19 at #BCCIAwards pic.twitter.com/nj50mRZ8Jo
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 12, 2020
India opener Smriti Mandhana was awarded for being the highest run-getter in ODIs. She amassed 349 runs in six matches at an average of 69.80 with three half-centuries and one century to her name while Jhulan Goswami was acknowledged for being the highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets in six matches.
India’s middle-order batswoman Deepti Sharma received the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for best woman cricketer in the senior domestic arena.
Deepti Sharma receives the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy – Best Woman Cricketer (Senior Domestic) OF 2018-19 (SR WOMEN ONE DAY)
Congratulations @Deepti_Sharma06 😃 #BCCIAwards pic.twitter.com/mzuWXy2Jg2
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 13, 2020
Former Indian captain Anjum Chopra was presented the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for women. 42-year-old Anjum is considered to be one of India’s finest batswomen having played 127 ODIs and 18 T20 internationals. She was also part of the Indian team which played the prized World Cup final against Australia in 2005.