Indian cricketers, including Shubman Gill, the men’s Test captain, and Deepti Sharma, the women’s cricket standout, emerged as prominent figures in the Wisden cricket awards revealed on Monday. The renowned UK-based Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, established in 1864, serves as an annual comprehensive record of major cricket events globally and is widely considered the sport’s ultimate authority.
Within the list of five cricketers of the year designated by the publication, four Indian players who showcased remarkable performances during a captivating 2-2 Test series in England last year were recognized. Among those honored were batsman Shubman Gill, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja specializing in spin bowling, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, and pace bowler Mohammed Siraj. The sole English player included in this distinguished group was former Test opener Haseeb Hameed, who guided Nottinghamshire to victory in the County Championship in 2025.
The Wisden awards are a one-time recognition for players and are primarily based on their outstanding performances during the preceding English cricket season. Shubman Gill was additionally presented with the Wisden Trophy for his exceptional Test performance of the year after his impressive scores of 269 and 161 in the second Test at Edgbaston.
Deepti Sharma was named Wisden’s top women’s cricketer of the year, succeeding her compatriot Smriti Mandhana, in acknowledgment of her versatile contributions to India’s triumph in the 50-over World Cup. On the men’s side, the award went to Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc. Abhishek Sharma was distinguished as Wisden’s leading T20 cricketer of the year.
Despite the accolades, Wisden editor Lawrence Booth raised concerns about the increasing Indian influence on English domestic cricket’s Hundred tournament. He highlighted that four out of the eight franchises are now affiliated with owners of Indian Premier League teams following substantial private investments. Booth expressed apprehensions that this ownership structure could potentially transform The Hundred into an event resembling the IPL more than a platform benefiting English cricket.
Booth was candid in his critique of England’s disappointing Ashes campaign, labeling it as “feckless, reckless, and legless.” England’s crushing 4-1 defeat by Australia was attributed to inadequate planning, perplexing strategies, and a lackadaisical approach to off-field conduct, including reports of excessive drinking during a mid-tour break. Booth lamented the squandering of a significant opportunity and criticized England for their careless and irresponsible performance, emphasizing the gravity of the missed chance.