The latest edition of the prestigious Wisden recognition has placed Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc and India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma at the forefront of global cricketing excellence, reflecting a year defined by outstanding individual brilliance and historic team milestones.
For India’s women’s team, the accolade arrives against the backdrop of a long-awaited breakthrough on the world stage. After years of near misses in major international finals, the side—led by seasoned campaigners such as Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana—finally scaled the summit by defeating South Africa in a decisive Women’s ODI World Cup final, securing their maiden global title.
A central figure in that triumph was Deepti Sharma, whose all-round dominance proved decisive throughout the tournament. In the final alone, she contributed a composed 58 runs before producing a match-winning spell of 5 wickets, dismantling the opposition batting order. Across the competition, she accumulated 215 runs and 22 wickets, earning the Player of the Tournament honour and subsequently being named Wisden’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
In the men’s category, Mitchell Starc reaffirmed his reputation as one of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket. In 2025, he claimed 55 Test wickets, underlining his consistency across challenging conditions. His standout performance came against England, where he registered figures of 7 for 58, a career-defining spell that shifted the momentum of the series. Starc also played a pivotal role in Australia’s Ashes success, finishing the series with 31 wickets and exerting relentless pressure on opposing batters with his trademark pace and swing.
The T20 format also saw India’s rising talent Abhishek Sharma reach a significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 runs in a calendar year, earning him a place among Wisden’s standout performers. Meanwhile, India’s strong presence in the prestigious “Five Cricketers of the Year” list further highlighted the nation’s growing depth in international cricket.
Notably, Shubman Gill made headlines with a monumental 430-run innings at Edgbaston, while Ravindra Jadeja continued to impress with his all-round consistency. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant added flair and resilience in the middle order, and pace bowler Mohammed Siraj maintained India’s attacking edge with key breakthroughs in crucial matches.
The only overseas player in the elite list was England’s Haseeb Hameed, whose prolific 1,258 runs in county cricket powered Nottinghamshire to a championship triumph and reinforced his credentials as a dependable top-order batter.
Summary of Key Honours
| Category | Cricketer | Major Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Wisden Women’s Cricketer of the Year | Deepti Sharma | 215 runs & 22 wickets; World Cup-winning campaign |
| Wisden Men’s Cricketer of the Year | Mitchell Starc | 55 Test wickets; 31 Ashes wickets |
| Leading T20 Performer | Abhishek Sharma | 1,000+ T20 runs in a year |
| Five Cricketers of the Year | Shubman Gill | 430-run innings at Edgbaston |
| Five Cricketers of the Year | Ravindra Jadeja | Consistent all-round performances |
| Five Cricketers of the Year | Rishabh Pant | Impactful middle-order batting |
| Five Cricketers of the Year | Mohammed Siraj | Key fast-bowling breakthroughs |
| Overseas Recognition | Haseeb Hameed | 1,258 county runs; title-winning season |
Collectively, the honours underscore a year in which India and Australia consolidated their dominance across formats, while individual brilliance from players like Deepti Sharma and Mitchell Starc continues to inspire the next generation of cricketers worldwide.