New Delhi, February 9:

India’s cricket chiefs today named swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag the country’s player of the year for 2007-2008.

Sehwag, 30, will receive the Polly Umrigar award, named after a former India captain, at a function organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on February 18. Sehwag dominated Indian batting since his return to the Test side on the 2007-08 tour of Australia after being overlooked for the away series against Bangladesh and England and the home matches against Pakistan.

In 2008, the opening batsman scored 1,462 runs in 14 Tests at an average of 56.23, including a blistering triple-century against South Africa in Chennai. Sehwag was also part of India’s World Cup-winning Twenty20 squad in South Africa in September, 2007.

Former Test batsman Gundappa Viswanath will receive the CK Nayudu award, named

after the legendary India captain, for his lifetime contribution to the game. The stylish middle-order batsman, who scored a Test century on debut against Australia in 1969, has served as India’s chairman of selectors in the past.

India stars Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh, recipients of the country’s fourth-highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, last month, will also receive special awards from the BCCI. Dhoni led India to victory in the World Twenty20 championships, while Harbhajan surpassed 300 wickets during the home series against Australia last October-November.