Kapil Dev presented with lifetime achievement award, Ashwin named India's best cricketer

Former India captain Kapil Dev was honoured with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI at its seventh annual awards ceremony here on Saturday.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was given the Polly Umrigar Award for being the best Indian cricketer last season.

In the 2012-13 season Ashwin claimed 43 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul in Tests. He also scored 263 runs in eight Tests including two fifties. Ashwin also took 24 wickets in 18 ODIs and three wickets in four T20 Internationals.

Ashwin was presented with a trophy and a cheque for Rs 5 lakh for award which has previously been won by by Sachin Tendulkar (2006-07 and 2009-10), Virender Sehwag (2007-08), Gautam Gambhir (2008-09), Rahul Dravid (2010-11) and Virat Kohli (2011-12).

Legendary all rounder and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil became the 21st Indian cricketer to receive the CK Nayudu Award. "When we started playing, it was only for passion as we didn't think about any awards. I would like to thank all the captains under whom I have played - Bishan Bedi, Sunil, Venkat (S Venkataragahavan), Gundappa Viswanath. I would like to thank my family who allowed me to play the game for so much time. I believe all of us should feel proud for making the game popular in the country," Kapil said after accepting the award.

One of the greatest cricketers of all time, Kapil Dev was the first player to complete the 'double' of 5,000 runs and 400 wickets in Tests. He also had a stint as coach of the Indian team in 1999-00, and served as chairman of the National Cricket Academy in 2006-07.

Ashwin on his part said, "I am extremely blessed and honoured to be standing before you. This is the real dream come true. I thank the BCCI for honouring and recogising my performance."

Mumbai's Abhishek Nayar received the Lala Amarnath Award, for being the best all-rounder in the 2012-13 edition of the Ranji Trophy. He scored 966 runs at an average of 96.6, including three centuries and eight fifties, and 19 wickets.

The Mumbai Cricket Association collected the trophy for the Best Overall Performance in the 2012-13 season. The teams representing the MCA won the Ranji Trophy, the Under-25 CK Nayudu Trophy, the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, the Women's Under-19 inter-state tournament, and finished runners-up in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy.

Rohit Sharma received the Dilip Sardesai Award, for being India's best cricketer in the recent home Test series against the West Indies. He scored hundreds in both Tests, and accumulated an aggregate of 288 runs.

The BCCI awards function was attended by members of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian squad that is set to depart for New Zealand on Sunday. Also present were former India stars Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.

India's World Cup winnings captains Dev and Dhoni shared the stage with their respective trophies. In a heart-warming moment Dhoni lifted the 1983 World Cup trophy while Dev picked up the 2011 trophy.

Other awardees:

Madhavrao Scindia Award for highest scorer in Ranji Trophy 2012-13: Jiwanjot Singh Chouhan (Punjab)

Madhavrao Scindia Award for highest wicket taker in Ranji Trophy 2012-13: Ishwar Pandey (MP)

MA Chidambaram trophy for best under 25 cricketer of 2012-13: Karan Sharma (Railways)

MA Chidambaram trophy for best under 19 cricketer of 2012-13: Akshar Patel (Gujarat)

MA Chidambaram trophy for best under 16 cricketer of 2012-13: Arman Jaffer (Mumbai)

MA Chidambaram trophy for best woman (Sr) cricketer of 2012-13: M D Thirushkamini (Tamil Nadu)

Best umpire in domestic cricket in 2012-13: C Shamshuddin