JOIN USExceptional performances by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli make them the leading candidates for the 2013 ESPNCricinfo awards, nominations for which were announced on Thursday.
The annual awards recognise the best performances in Tests and ODIs through the year and the Indian trio figured in both the Test batting performance of the year and ODI batting performance of the year nominations.
Off-spinner R Ashwin made the grade in the Test bowling performance of the year, while Ravindra Jadeja was shortlisted for the ODI bowling performance of the year. An independent jury will decide the winners in the four individual performance categories, while fan voting on ESPNCricinfo will determine the Best Debut of the Year award. The winners will be announced later this year at a gala event in Mumbai.
Dhoni figured in the list of Test nominations for his herculean 224 effort in the first Test against Australia in Chennai, while his unbeaten 139-run knock in the lost cause against the same opponent in the third one-dayer in Mohali also found a place in the ODI scheme of things. Dhawan also got two nominations - 187 in his debut match against Australia and his 114 in the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy one-day series against South Africa.