Indian cricketers showcased their prowess at the prestigious Wisden cricket awards, with Test captain Shubman Gill and women’s standout Deepti Sharma leading the charge. The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, a revered cricket compendium dating back to 1864, recognized four Indian players for their stellar performances in a thrilling 2-2 drawn Test series against England.
Among the five cricketers of the year named by the publication, Indian players featured prominently. Batsman Shubman Gill, spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj were all acknowledged for their contributions. The sole English player in this distinguished group was former Test opener Haseeb Hameed, who led Nottinghamshire to victory in the County Championship in 2025.
The award, which can only be won once in a player’s career, primarily considers performances from the previous English season. Shubman Gill was also honored with the Wisden Trophy for his exceptional Test performance, scoring 269 and 161 in the second Test at Edgbaston.
Deepti Sharma claimed the title of Wisden’s leading women’s cricketer of the year, succeeding compatriot Smriti Mandhana. She was recognized for her stellar all-round display during India’s 50-over World Cup triumph. The men’s award went to Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc, while Abhishek Sharma was named Wisden’s top T20 cricketer of the year.
Despite the accolades, Wisden editor Lawrence Booth expressed concerns over the increasing Indian influence in English domestic cricket’s Hundred competition. Booth criticized the ownership structure, cautioning against the event becoming an IPL proxy catering more to Indian investors than English cricket.
Booth did not mince words when assessing England’s lackluster Ashes campaign, labeling it as “feckless, reckless, and legless.” England’s dismal 4-1 defeat by Australia was attributed to inadequate planning, confused tactics, and a lax off-field approach, with reports highlighting excessive drinking during a mid-tour break. Booth lamented the squandered opportunity and criticized the team’s performance, emphasizing the disappointment of such a missed chance.
