Indian aggressive opener Gautam Gambhir has received the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award from the Indian legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar in a glistering ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The awards were given on the basis of performance of the players between August 2008 and August 2009. Gambhir scored 1,269 runs including five centuries and four half-centuries at the impressive average of 84.60 in the eight test matches he played during these 12 months.

Speaking to the media, Gambhir said that it is just like a dream for him and he feels proud to be a part of Indian team and to contribute in the success of his team.
Indian skipper MS Dhoni was named as ODI Player of the Year Award. Dhoni left Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul behind to win the award.

During the 12 month period, Dhoni scored 967 runs with an average of 60.43 and at an aggressive rate of 86.63. Dhoni smashed nine half-centuries in the meantime apart of 26 victims under his belt including 18 catches and eight stumping.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson won the Cricketer of the Year award. Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan was named the ICC Twenty20 International Performer of the Year.

The elite panel which selected the winners included Clive Lloyd, Anil Kumble, Mudassar Nazar, Stephen Fleming and Bob Taylor.