Introduction to Player of the Series awards by a wicketkeeper
In a remarkable achievement, South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has matched a prestigious world record held by former Indian captain MS Dhoni. Following a stellar performance in the recent ODI series against Pakistan, de Kock equaled Dhoni’s record for the most ‘Player of the Series’ awards by a wicketkeeper in ODI cricket history.
De Kock’s Dominant Series Performance
Returning to international cricket after a brief retirement, Quinton de Kock was in sublime form during the three-match ODI series against Pakistan. Opening the batting, he amassed 239 runs, including one century and two half-centuries, finishing as the leading run-scorer. This earned him his seventh career ‘Player of the Series’ award in ODIs, drawing him level with the legendary MS Dhoni. Dhoni had achieved this feat seven times during his 15-year ODI career (2004-2019). Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim is next on the list with six awards.
A Significant Milestone
During the same series, de Kock also crossed the significant milestone of 7,000 runs in ODI cricket. He became the second-fastest South African batter to reach this mark, further cementing his status as one of the country’s all-time greats. Despite his 53 runs in the final match, the South African team was bowled out for 143.
The Overall Record Holder
It is important to note that the overall record for the most ‘Player of the Series’ awards in ODI cricket belongs to Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, with 15. Virat Kohli and Sanath Jayasuriya are joint-second with 11 awards each.
FAQs on Player of the Series awards by a wicketkeeper
Q1: What record did Quinton de Kock equal?
A1: Quinton de Kock equaled MS Dhoni’s record for the most ‘Player of the Series’ awards by a wicketkeeper in ODI cricket, with seven.
Q2: How did de Kock perform against Pakistan?
A2: He was exceptional, scoring 239 runs across three matches with one century and two half-centuries, earning the Player of the Series award.
Q3: Who holds the all-time record for most Player of the Series awards?
A3: India’s Sachin Tendulkar holds the all-time record with 15 Player of the Series awards in ODIs.
Conclusion on Player of the Series awards by a wicketkeeper
Quinton de Kock‘s phenomenal form against Pakistan has not only propelled his team to victory but also secured him a place in the record books alongside the great MS Dhoni. This achievement highlights de Kock’s consistency and class as a world-class wicketkeeper-batter.
Disclaimer on Player of the Series awards by a wicketkeeper:
This article is for informational purposes only. The statistics and records mentioned are based on publicly available information as of the date of writing.
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