Gambhir is Ceat International Cricketer of the Year for 2008-09

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir today won the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award for his outstanding performance with the bat in the 2008-09 season.

Gambhir, with seven Test centuries in his last nine outings, also got the International Test Batsman of the Year award.

His opening partner Virender Sehwag was chosen International ODI Batsman of the Year while Mitchell Johnson, the Australian left-arm pacer, got the International Test Bowler of the Year award and Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis the International ODI Bowler of the Year award.

Sri Lankan off-spinner Thilan Samaraweera got the International Spirit of Cricket Award while India's spinner Harbhajan Singh was given the 300 Wickets Felicitation Award.

The International Team of the Year award went to Australia, which carried a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh

The awards were based on the cricketers' performances as rated by the Ceat Cricket Ratings (CCR) for the year 2008-09.

"The CCR International Award function is a reiteration of the close association Ceat has with cricket and our endeavor to recognize the individual brilliances on the international cricket scene," Mr Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG Group.

"In India, where cricket is not just a sport, CCR awards plays a pivotal role in paying tribute to not just the cricketing brilliance but also the millions of cricketing fans as well," he said.

India's famed off-spinner of yesteryears, Erapalli Prasanna was given the CCR International Lifetime Achievement Award on the occasion. He got a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said the Ceat International Cricket Rating Awards was one of the most important events on the cricketing calendar as they recognise the achievements of players from the grassrooots to the international arena.

Ceat Limited is the flagship company of RPG Enterprises and one of India's leading tyre manufacturers.

NNN