The year 2025 turned out to be one of the most interesting eras of contemporary international men’s cricket. This period saw veteran legends consolidate their status as legends, team captains touch milestones of historic proportions, and new stars emerge as the future carriers of the torch of this beautiful sport.
Whether it’s legendary Test match action, heart-thumping T20 performances, or winning ICC Cups, they brought the story of the world of cricket alive.
10 Best Cricketers of 2025: Men’s Cricket edition
1. Shubman Gill – India’s New-Age Batting Colossus
Shubman Gill’s ascendancy in the year 2025 proved that he was always the ‘Prince’ of the Indian cricket team. Although his performance in the ODI format was quite impressive in the preceding years, leading the Indian team to a historic test series in England made him a legendary cricketer.
Gill aggregated 754 runs in five Test matches at an average of 75.40, including four hundreds and then the epic 269, re-writing the record books. He became:
- Highest-scoring Indian Test captain
- The first Asian Captain to amass a double century in SENA nations
- The Indian with the best-ever Test series record in SENA stadiums
- There are many players who would
Regardless of the format, Gill finished the year 2025 as the top scorer in international cricket for men, scoring a total of 1,764 runs. He led his country to a 2-2 draw in the test series in England, which was a defining moment for the young player.
2. Jacob Duffy – New Zealand’s Wicket-Taking Machine
A new name, that of New Zealand medium pacer Jacob Duffy, figured in the list of most successful bowlers for 2025. He took 81 international wickets in 36 outings, averaging just 17.11, thus shattering Sir Richard Hadlee’s record, which was established forty years back.
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His success in white-ball cricket earned him a position at number 2 in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, with his worth further appreciated when he was bought at a bargain price in the IPL.
3. Temba Bavuma – The Captain Who Changed South Africa’s History
Temba Bavuma’s influence went beyond figures in 2025. As the skipper of the South African national team, he led the Proteas to:
- ICC World Test Championship title
- There is a historic Test series whitewash on the horizon for Indian
- The famous Lord’s victory over Australia
Even if his contribution of 714 runs looks humble at first glance, it was when it was needed that Bavuma delivered. This has made him one of the top-10 cricketers of 2025.
4. Joe Root – England’s Ever-Reliable Run Accumulator
Joe Root proved once again why he is one of the most consistent batsmen of the current age. In the year 2025, Joe Root scored 1613 international runs at an average of 53.76 runs, making him the third highest scorer of the year.
In both formats, he dominated:
- Top-rated ICC Test batsman
- Leading ODI run-scorer of the year
Root further broke Eoin Morgan’s record to become England’s highest ODI scorer ever. He solidified his legendary status.
5. Shai Hope – West Indies’ Lone Beacon of Consistency
Despite the ups and downs faced by the West Indies cricket team, Shai Hope proved to be a bright spot with his exemplary consistency. He amassed 1,760 runs in the ODI format and became one of the leading run-scorers of the year.
With his performances, he has made his mark in history by being the first international cricketer to score an international century against all current Test nations, apart from delivering match-winning performances against India and New Zealand.
6. Abhishek Sharma – India’s T20 Powerhouse
Abhishek Sharma revamped his international career in 2025 by turning out to be India’s destructive T20I opener. He scored:
- 859 T20I scores at an average of 42.95
- Strike rate in excess of 193
He broke records with:
- India’s highest T20 international score
- This is the highest score by an Indian in the IPL till date.
- Over 100 sixes in a calendar year
His aggressive batting skills made him one of the most exciting players amongst the 10 best cricketers of the year 2025.
7. Rachin Ravindra – New Zealand’s All-Format Marvel
Rachin Ravindra had a coming-of-age season, finishing runners-up in the list of top run-scorers in New Zealand with 1,382 runs, while he was the leading run-scorer in the ICC Champions Trophy. Ravindra averaged 117.25 in Tests, incredible as it may seem, and his increased belief in T20s indicated an even brighter prospect.
8. Virat Kohli – The Icon Who Refused to Fade
Although Virat Kohli had announced his retirement from the Test format, his 2025 comeback was nothing short of an inspiring one. He produced:
- Match-winning knocks in Champions Trophy 2025
- 657 runs in IPL 2025, leading his team to win the first title ever
- 651 ODI runs at the average of 65.10.
Kohli’s dedication to domestic cricket as well as his ability to bounce back has ensured his constant presence among the 10 best cricketers of 2025.
9. Matt Henry – New Zealand’s Pace Spearhead
In the absence of experienced fast bowlers, Matt Henry performed outstandingly leading the fast bowling attack for the Kiwis. In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, he topped the bowling list with an average of 16.87, taking 65 wickets in 27 matches.
Henry’s versatility was the reason why he emerged as the most effective fast bowler of the year.
10. Kuldeep Yadav – India’s Match-Winners
Kuldeep Yadav went about having one of his best ever international years. He took 60 wickets in 25 outings, which topped the charts for India.
His performances in:
- Champions Trophy
- Asia Cup, where he averaged under 10
played an integral role in India’s unbeaten runs in the tournament, thus solidifying his position in the top 10 list of cricket players in the year 2025.
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