In a landmark recognition for Indian cricket, Smriti Mandhana and Jasprit Bumrah have been named Wisden’s Leading Cricketers in the World for 2024 in the women’s and men’s categories respectively.
The announcement was made in the 2025 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, widely regarded as the sport’s most respected chronicle.
Mandhana became the first Indian woman since the inception of the award to earn the title twice. Bumrah’s honour marks a significant individual milestone in what was a dominant year across all formats for the pace spearhead.
Wisden also named the Five Cricketers of the Year: Gus Atkinson, Liam Dawson, Sophie Ecclestone, Jamie Smith, and Dan Worrall.
Mandhana earned the title in the women’s category after finishing the year with 1,659 international runs, the highest ever in a calendar year by a woman.
Her tally included four centuries in ODIs, underlining her consistency and adaptability. She topped the T20I run-charts with 763 runs and added 747 in ODIs.
A key highlight was her dominant run against South Africa mid-year, where she scored 117, 136, and 90 in three ODIs — a record 343 runs in a bilateral series — and followed it with 149 in a one-off Test. She also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden Women’s Premier League title.
As for Bumrah, he was named the men’s Leading Cricketer after a dominant all-format display. He picked up 71 Test wickets in 2024 at an average of 14.92, the most by any bowler at such an economy in a single year.
His contributions proved pivotal across key matches: From dismantling England’s top order in Visakhapatnam to delivering match-turning spells in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Bumrah’s impact remained constant.
He also became the first bowler to reach 200 Test wickets at an average below 20. His captaincy cameo in the absence of Rohit Sharma in Perth also drew praise. “Fast bowlers are smart people,” Bumrah said, challenging conventional stereotypes around fast-bowling captains.
"In an eventful year for Indian cricket, their success depended largely, if not entirely, on one factor: whether or not he had the ball. Rarely has a cricketer stood out so overwhelmingly as he did in 2024. It was Bumrah or bust," the publication wrote in their announcement.
At the T20 World Cup, he was named Player of the Tournament for his 15 wickets at an economy rate of just 4.17, leading India to their first ICC trophy since 2013.
The announcement was made in the 2025 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, widely regarded as the sport’s most respected chronicle.
Mandhana became the first Indian woman since the inception of the award to earn the title twice. Bumrah’s honour marks a significant individual milestone in what was a dominant year across all formats for the pace spearhead.
Wisden also named the Five Cricketers of the Year: Gus Atkinson, Liam Dawson, Sophie Ecclestone, Jamie Smith, and Dan Worrall.
Mandhana earned the title in the women’s category after finishing the year with 1,659 international runs, the highest ever in a calendar year by a woman.
Her tally included four centuries in ODIs, underlining her consistency and adaptability. She topped the T20I run-charts with 763 runs and added 747 in ODIs.
A key highlight was her dominant run against South Africa mid-year, where she scored 117, 136, and 90 in three ODIs — a record 343 runs in a bilateral series — and followed it with 149 in a one-off Test. She also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden Women’s Premier League title.
As for Bumrah, he was named the men’s Leading Cricketer after a dominant all-format display. He picked up 71 Test wickets in 2024 at an average of 14.92, the most by any bowler at such an economy in a single year.
His contributions proved pivotal across key matches: From dismantling England’s top order in Visakhapatnam to delivering match-turning spells in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Bumrah’s impact remained constant.
He also became the first bowler to reach 200 Test wickets at an average below 20. His captaincy cameo in the absence of Rohit Sharma in Perth also drew praise. “Fast bowlers are smart people,” Bumrah said, challenging conventional stereotypes around fast-bowling captains.
"In an eventful year for Indian cricket, their success depended largely, if not entirely, on one factor: whether or not he had the ball. Rarely has a cricketer stood out so overwhelmingly as he did in 2024. It was Bumrah or bust," the publication wrote in their announcement.
At the T20 World Cup, he was named Player of the Tournament for his 15 wickets at an economy rate of just 4.17, leading India to their first ICC trophy since 2013.
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