Bumrah and Mandhana Become Wisden’s Leading Cricketers In The World 2025

In a big honour for Indian cricket, Jasprit Bumrah and Mandhana have been named Wisden’s Leading Cricketers in the World for 2024. The news comes in the elite 2025 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, released on Tuesday.

Jasprit Bumrah: India’s Fast-Bowling Phenomenon’s Historic Year

Due to his outstanding displays in all three formats, Jasprit Bumrah has been named the ECB Leading Men’s Cricketer in the World.

In a season of records, Bumrah became the first Test bowler ever to notch 200 wickets at an average of under 20. His record of 71 Test wickets at an astonishing average of under 15 demonstrated his absolute domination.

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth labelled Bumrah as “the star of the year” and specifically praised his match-winning 32 wickets at 13.06 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He poetically wrote: “Runs scored off him should have counted double… he allowed a claim to be the greatest of all time.”

Bumrah’s year also saw him guide India to T20 World Cup victory in the Caribbean, cementing his place as a generational fast-bowling great.

Smriti Mandhana: Breaking Records Across Formats

Part of this high-end recognition with Bumrah, Smriti Mandhana was awarded Leading Women’s Cricketer in the World. The classy left-hander had scored 1659 international runs in 2024, most by any female in a calendar year. She also hit four ODI hundreds, creating a new record in women’s cricket.

Mandhana’s highlight was an exquisite Test century (149 runs) in a comprehensive ten-wicket victory over South Africa. Her class and consistency across all forms made her one of the best batters in the world.

Nicholas Pooran Named Leading T20 Cricketer

West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran was named the Leading T20 Cricketer in the World for his eye-catching performances, bringing Caribbean pizzazz to the 2025 Wisden accolades.

Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year: Surrey Stars Shine Bright

Wisden’s classic Five Cricketers of the Year—a career highlight—had a Surrey bias. Champions for the third year in succession, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, and Dan Worrall were recognised for their Championship-winning efforts.

– Atkinson emerged as England’s star Test performer with 52 wickets, including a remarkable 12-wicket return on debut at Lord’s.

– Smith, too, on his Test debut, impressed with both bat and gloves.

– Worrall, the Australian-born seamer soon to be eligible for England, chipped in with 52 wickets at 16 apiece, powering Surrey’s victory.

Joining the quintet were Liam Dawson (Hampshire’s spin-bowling all-rounder with 54 wickets and 956 runs) and Sophie Ecclestone, England’s top left-arm spinner with 26 wickets across formats at under 10 apiece.

Mitchell Santner’s Pune Heroics Earn Wisden Trophy

Wisden Trophy for individual performance of the year went to New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner. His extraordinary 13-wicket performance in the second Test at Pune led the Kiwis to win a historic 3-0 Test series clean sweep against India, their first series victory on Indian soil since 2012.

Lawrence Booth Criticises Cricket Governance

Lawrence Booth was not afraid to critique the international governance of cricket in his column as he interrogated Jay Shah’s abrupt ascension from Secretary of the BCCI to Chair of the ICC, especially with Pakistan’s unresolved hosting rights for the Champions Trophy.

He was also critical of the impending World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa as a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece,” and advocated reforms for a more improved international Test format.

The Hundred’s Financial Bonanza: A Double-Edged Blessing

As the ECB sale of equity in The Hundred generated a £29 million bonanza for every non-host county, Booth warned that the economic divide between host and non-host counties would increase unless growth is sustainable.

Tributes to James Anderson, Derek Underwood, and Graham Thorpe

The Almanack pays tribute to James Anderson, who retired in July 2024 with 704 test wickets for all time in England after a career spanning 21 years.

We also acknowledged two of England’s greats who died in 2024, Derek Underwood and Graham Thorpe. The leading piece at its heart was an emotional piece written by Thorpe’s wife, Amanda, and the piece focused on his battle with mental health in particular and appealed to readers to view mental health as a serious and real battle.

ALSO READ: Vaibhav Suryavanshi Age Scandal: Is Rajasthan Royals’ 14-Year-Old Sensation Older?