Sri Lankan Check cricketer Kamindu Mendis (left) and Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub. — AFP/File
Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis has been named because the Males’s Rising Cricketer of the Yr for 2024 by the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) following his splendid performances within the red-ball format.
Mendis, who scored 1,451 runs throughout all codecs at a median simply above 50, stood out alongside a few of cricket’s greats in 2024.
Having made just one Check look for Sri Lanka earlier than the 12 months started, the left-handed batter ended the 12 months not solely solidifying his place as a key participant in all codecs but additionally turning into Sri Lanka’s go-to participant in moments of disaster and high-stakes conditions.
He performed a pivotal position throughout Sri Lanka’s marketing campaign for his or her maiden ICC World Check Championship Last spot.
The 26-year-old delivered a sequence of essential innings, making him one of many six batters to surpass 1,000 Check runs within the calendar 12 months, and he averaged the very best amongst them.
The center-order batter capitalised on his alternatives, hitting 5 centuries and three fifties in his spectacular run tally.
His match-winning contributions helped Sri Lanka safe very important Check victories towards New Zealand, Bangladesh, and England, each at house and overseas.
In England, Mendis completed as Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer in a three-Check sequence and performed an instrumental position of their first Check win on English soil in a decade.
Mendis’ most outstanding efficiency got here within the second Check towards New Zealand in Galle, the place he achieved a career-best rating within the longest format.
His unbeaten 182 within the first innings was the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s huge whole of 602/5 and performed a key position of their 2-0 sequence sweep.
The outstanding knock, which included 16 boundaries and 4 sixes off 250 balls, earned him the Participant of the Match award.
Mendis additionally grew to become the joint-third quickest to attain 1000 runs in Males’s Checks, equaling Sir Don Bradman’s file of reaching the milestone in simply 13 innings.
“Winning two ICC Player of the Month Awards in 2024, along with being named the ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year, fills me with immense joy and pride. These accolades are a testament to the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my game, with the unwavering support of my coaches, teammates, family, and friends,” mentioned Mendis.
“Playing international cricket has always been a childhood dream, and having the chance to showcase my skills on such a platform is both an honour and a result of that relentless effort.
“Trying forward, my purpose is to proceed constructing on my early performances on the worldwide discipline and use it as a stepping stone to succeed in the very best stage of excellence within the sport.
“I would also like to acknowledge the immense talent of my fellow nominees — Gus, Shamar, and Saim — all of whom are exceptional players.”
