Kohli, Raina, Gambhir walk away with honours at Ceat cricket awards

India's middle order batsmen Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina won the Ceat International Youngster of the Year and T20 Player of the Year awards respectively at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday.

Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir walked away with the Match-Winning Innings of the Year honour for his superb 97 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka on April 2 at the Wankhede Stadium.

On receiving the award Kohli said he was eager to grab the opportunity he has been provided with (by the selectors) and do well in Test cricket.

"Test cricket is one form of the game I want to do well. I have got the opportunity to do well in Tests and I want to grab it," said Kohli, who is from Delhi.

Two other Indian stalwart batsmen -- explosive opener Virender Sehwag and wrist-magician V V S Laxman -- were honoured with special awards for completing 10 years in international cricket and for their huge contribution to Indian cricket.

Asked how he could play at a rapid-fire rate even in Tests, Sehwag gave credit to the time he grew up playing ten-over cricket back home.

"I was playing ten over games, when I started and there you have to make runs very quickly. That's why I try to score-off every ball, but on merit. I also try to sing a song when I bat and my favourite song is 'Chala Jaata Hoon' (of Kishore Kumar from the film 'Mere Jeevan Sathi')," he said.

Asked by former captain Sunil Gavasakar how calm and composed No. 3 Rahul Dravid is, when Sehwag blazes away at the crease, Laxman said he gets "excited".

"He walks up and down, he's a little bit tense, but is also excited, but cool," said Laxman.

"Sehwag is extremely talented and his mindset is always positive, whatever be the situation," he said in Sehwag's praise.

Former West Indian fast-bowler Courtney Walsh won the Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2010-11 season.

England batsman Jonathan Trott picked up two awards -- International Cricketer of the Year, as well as Batsman of the Year honours while his teammate and swing bowler James Anderson got the International Bowler of the Year award on the east lawns of the Cricket Club of India.

The awards were based on the performances of players as rated by Ceat Cricket Ratings for 2010-11.

All the nine award winners were present in person to receive the awards worth Rs 5 lakh each and a trophy.

Gambhir's brilliant knock at the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka was recognised and he was duly rewarded for the effort.

List of awardees

International Cricketer of the Year - Jonathan Trott (England)

International Batsman of the year - Jonathan Trott (England)

International Bowler of the year - James Anderson (England)

International Youngster of the year - Virat Kohli (India)

International T20 player of the year - Suresh Raina (India)

Lifetime Achievement Award 2010-2011 - Courtney Walsh (West Indies)

Match-winning Inning of the Year - Gautam Gambhir (India)

Special Award: Completing 10 years in international cricket - Virender Sehwag (India)

Special Award: Contribution to Indian Cricket Award - VVS Laxman (India).