Poonam Nath

Wisden's top cricketers of the year 2025 enlists name of power duo Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana

Digital Desk: India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and star batter Smriti Mandhana have been named the Leading Men's and Women's Cricketers in the World, respectively, in the prestigious Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2025 edition, which celebrates their outstanding performances in 2024.

Bumrah had an outstanding year across all formats, particularly Test cricket. He took 71 wickets in Tests in 2024, averaging 14.92, the best for any bowler in a single calendar year with so many wickets.

His consistency and impact propelled him to become the first bowler in Test history to reach 200 wickets at an average of less than 20, a historic achievement in contemporary cricket.

On the female side, Smriti Mandhana had a memorable year. In 2024, the exquisite left-hander scored 1659 runs across formats, becoming the most run scorer in international women's cricket. Her run total included four centuries in ODIs, which set a new record in women's cricket.

Mandhana added to her accomplishments with her second career Test century, a dominant 149-run knock in a 10-wicket victory over South Africa, cementing her place as one of the game's current greats.

Mandhana is the first Indian woman to be awarded Wisden's Leading Women's Cricketer twice, having previously earned the award in 2018.

The announcement appears in the most recent edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, widely considered the sport's most respected annual magazine.