NEW DELHI, Feb 9: India’s cricket chiefs on Monday named swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag the country’s player of the year for 2007-2008.

Sehwag, 30, will receive the Polly Umrigar award, named after a former India captain, at a function organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Feb 18.

Sehwag dominated Indian batting since his return to the Test side on the 2007-08 tour of Australia after being overlooked for the away series against Bangladesh and England and the home matches against Pakistan.

In 2008, the opening batsman scored 1,462 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 56.23, including a blistering triple-century against South Africa in Chennai.

Sehwag was also part of India’s World Cup-winning Twenty20 squad in South Africa in September, 2007.

Cheteshwar Pujara, a 21-year-old from Saurashtra, was named the best batsman in domestic cricket for scoring 807 runs at an average of 73.36 runs in the country’s premier first-class tournament for the Ranji Trophy.

Uttar Pradesh seamer Sudeep Tyagi, who picked up 41 wickets at 21.63 in the Ranji Trophy, was named the best bowler in domestic cricket.

Former Test batsman Gundappa Viswanath will receive the C.K. Nayudu award, named after the legendary India captain, for his lifetime contribution to the game.

The stylish middle-order batsman has served as India’s chairman of selectors in the past.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh, recipients of the country’s fourth-highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, last month, will also receive special awards from the BCCI.

Dhoni led India to victory in the World Twenty20 Championship, while Harbhajan surpassed 300 wickets during the home series against Australia last October-November.—AFP