Countdown to the 2016 Sportskeeda cricketer of the year: Virat Kohli reigns supreme

2016 was a spectacular year for cricket, and the game buzzed across all formats and across all conditions.

The players displayed tremendous pedigree and potential and what stood out was their ability to adjust according to the varying demands of the game.

The game has evolved and the players have understood that they need to fine tune their game in order to stay relevant.

Also read: Sportskeeda Cricket Awards: India's MVP from the Test team

As the year ends to a close, we take a look at the top 5 players across formats. These players have dished out match-winning performances for their teams and their knack of amending their game across the different formats made them stand head and shoulders above the rest.

#5 Mitchell Starc

The left-arm quick had a breakthrough season this year. His potential was never in doubt and he had given enough glimpses of his ability with the white ball.

However, this year he staged a sterling comeback into the Test fold and took wickets for fun at the top of the order. His menacing in-swing was unplayable at times, and he made it a habit to either pin the batsman in front of the stumps or to rattle the stumps.

2016 was a golden year for the quick and he has formed a potent combination with Josh Hazlewood across all conditions, and Australia would hope, he remains injury free and continues to serve Australia for many more years to come.

#4 David Warner

The pugnacious left-hander had a brilliant year with the bat against the white ball and scored 7 centuries all through the year.

He did not have the best of runs in Test cricket but scored a chancy century in his final innings of the year against Pakistan to round off the year on a high, with 2 Test centuries.

He also captained Australia in the limited overs fixtures and lead them to ODI and T20 series wins over Sri Lanka.

Warner, who was notorious for his combative nature on the field, has toned down a lot and has given glimpses of his leadership attributes too.

And, then there was the unprecedented triumph in the Indian Premier League when he captained the Sunrisers Hyderabad and emerged as the second highest run-scorer in the season.

#3 Ravichandran Ashwin

The ICC Test Cricketer and the Cricketer of the Year slots in at number 3, primarily because if the fact that he did not play as many ODIs in the year.

He was by far, the best bowler in Test cricket, and his purple patch continued right throughout the year and was a real trump card for Virat Kohli in Test matches.

With a modified action and uncluttered mind, Ashwin smashed many bowling records along the way.

His progress with the bat has been another heartening development, and in the coming years, he could just be the all-rounder India has been looking.

With India slated to play Champions Trophy in 2017, Ashwin the ODI Bowler needs to step up and carry forward his Test form.

#2 Joe Root

The English vice-captain just continued his stellar form into the year and then made sure that it is not wasted at any point.

Walking out to bat at number 3 in all the formats, Root has made the spot his own and has established himself as the premier batsman in the side.

The Yorkshire lad is also earmarked to assume leadership of the side sooner rather than later.

"I think Joe Root is ready to captain England," Alastair Cook said following England's innings-and-36-run defeat in Mumbai which also handed India the series.

He was superb against both the white and the red ball, and his tremendous ability to adapt and change his game according to the conditions makes him an asset England cricket would cherish for a long time to come.

#1 Virat Kohli is the Cricketer of Year

If it were even a remote possibility, Virat Kohli would have made sure he carried this year in his back pocket. Such was his dominance of the game, that he reached almost dizzying heights towards the end of the year.

He kick-started the year with a breathtaking display against Australia in the 3 T20Is, where he finished with 199 runs in 3 innings, and emerged as the leading run scorer.

He then followed it up with a sterling run in the World T20 where he was the second highest run-scorer, with 273 runs in 5 innings.

The Delhi lad was not done yet. He smashed 4 centuries in the Indian Premier League and almost single-handedly took his side, the Royal Challengers Bangalore into the finals.

And then when the Test cricket came about, he was ready to dig in and score some gritty runs. The flamboyance of the T20s gave way to responsibility and this resulted in him scoring 3 double centuries in the year.

In 18 innings, Kohli amassed 1215 runs at an average of 75.13, which included 4 centuries and 2 half-centuries.

With 3 centuries in ODIs, 4 in T20s, and 4 in Tests which includes 3 double tons, Virat Kohli is by far the Cricketer Of The Year!