Young wicket keeper-cum-batsman Rajesh Dhuper will get the Saheed Sporting-Maruti Estate (P) ltd Cricketer of the Year-2018 award.
Dhuper is the 26th cricketer to be awarded for his remarkable performance in 1017-18. Similarly, Sushri Divya Darshini has been selected as the 5th Woman Cricketer of the Year.
Playing only three Ranji matches, Rajesh has scored 275 runs with 68.75 per match average. He scored 97 runs against Tamil Nadu in which Odisha won. He scored the highest 146 runs in four matches of ‘Sayad Mustaq Ali’ Trophy. In ‘Bijay Hazare’ Trophy, he also scored 164 runs in four matches.
Dhuper and Divya Darshini would receive Rs 31,000 and Rs 21,000 as award money, respectively, informed Pankaj Pattnaik, secretary of the Saheed Sports Club.
A committee led by Maruti Eastern India MD Jitendra Prasad Singh selected the two cricketers.