Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana have been named as world’s best players by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack in its 2025 edition. Bumrah has been named the Leading Men’s Cricketer in the World, while Mandhana clinched the Leading Women’s Cricketer in the World award — marking a proud moment for Indian cricket.
The two cricketers had a stunning run at the intentional stage in 2024.
Bumrah, 31, was the leading wicket taker in Tests last year. He clinched 71 Test wickets at an average of just 14.92. He also made history by becoming the first Test bowler to reach 200 wickets with a career average under 20. For his spectacular show he was adjudged the ICC Cricketer of the year and ICC Test Cricketer of the year for 2024.
He also played a heroic role in the five-test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia that India lost 1-3. He first captained India in the series opener in Perth and led India to an emphatic 295 runs. He was brilliant with the red ball all through the series as he picked 32 wickets at an astonishing average of 13.06. Early in the year, at the T20 World Cup, Bumrah was unstoppable, as he earned the Player of the Tournament title for his 15 wickets at an economy rate of 4.17, playing a pivotal role in securing India’s first ICC title since 2013.
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On the women’s side, Mandhana had a record-breaking year. The 28-year-old southpaw scored 1,659 runs across formats in 2024, the highest by any female cricketer in a single year of international cricket. She notched up four ODI centuries—another milestone—and capped off the year with a superb Test hundred (149) in a commanding 10-wicket win over South Africa. This is Mandhana’s second time receiving the honour, having previously earned the title in 2018. She becomes the first Indian woman to win the award twice.
Meanwhile, West Indies’ hard-hitting batter Nicholas Pooran was named Leading T20 Cricketer in the World for his explosive performances in the shortest format.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
