Methodology

Naveen Kshatriya and Rahul Dravid with award

The methodology adopted to select the winners in the main categories is as follows:

The CASTROL Indian Cricketer of the Year:

The winner of this annual award is picked through a combination of objective and subjective techniques.

Stage I - Objective

Performances by Indian cricketers in the CASTROL Year (1st Jan to 31st Dec from 2006 onwards) are rated through a special system. The cricketers are rated on a series-by-series basis in ten categories

Aggregate - Tests
Aggregate - ODIs
Wickets - Tests
Wickets - ODIs
Batting average - Tests
Batting average - ODIs
Bowling average - Tests
Bowling average - ODIs
Catches taken - Tests
Catches taken - ODIs

Points are then allotted to every player in each of the categories in descending order. Thus; the highest scorer in Tests gets 10 points; the second-highest gets nine points; the third-highest gets eight and so on. Similarly; the highest scorer in one-day internationals gets 10 points; the second highest gets nine; and so on. The same holds for the other categories.

At the end of the Castrol Year, the aggregate of the points gained by every player in all ten categories is computed. The players with the top five aggregates are declared the nominees for the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year Award.

Stage II – Subjective

A 'ballot form' comprising names of the ‘nominees’ and a summary of their performances in Tests and one-day internationals (with stats) is sent to all the living cricketers who have represented India in at least one Test or five one-day internationals. They are asked to 'vote' for one of the five nominees.
The player who receives the highest number of votes is declared the winner.
The voting population in the voting population in 2006, for the 2004-05 Awards numbered 180.

CASTROL Junior Cricketer of the Year

This award is aimed at encouraging cricketers in the under-19, under-17 and under-15 age-groups.
Four winners of this award have gone on to represent the senior Indian team. Several others who have been nominated for the same have also donned India colours.
To select the winner of this award; performances at the under-19 / under-17 / under-15 level in the CASTROL Year are taken into account.
Maximum weightage is given to cricketers who have represented India in international junior-level tournaments like the Under-19 World Cup / Asia Cup; or have been part of the India 'A' team on overseas tours.
Performances are scrutinised and a shortlist of 15 players is sent to a panel of judges who have been associated with junior cricket. They are asked to recommend five nominees for the award and then pick one from among the five who they feel deserves the award the most.

CASTROL Lifetime Achievement in Cricket Award

This award is presented to a personality who has brought laurels to Indian cricket with consistent and outstanding performances that earned him the adulation of the countrymen and respect of his opponents. The award applies to anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to Indian cricket. This includes players, journalists, umpires or administrators.

Special Awards

The nature of these awards varies every year. These awards are given keeping in mind the venue or an unforgettable feat.
For instance, the Bengal team that won the Ranji Trophy in 1989-90, was felicitated during the 2003-04 ceremony in Kolkata.
Jhulan Goswami, the pace-bowling spearhead of the Indian women’s cricket team, was honoured for her match-winning performances on the 2006 England tour at the 2006 function in Mumbai.