India’s cricketers dominated the women’s categories at ESPNcricinfo’s annual awards for individual performances in 2025, highlighting a year in which the national side secured its maiden World Cup title.
Jemimah Rodrigues earned the women’s ODI batting honour for her memorable century against Australia in the World Cup, an innings played despite battling cramps that helped eliminate the defending champions. Deepti Sharma received the ODI bowling award following her decisive five-wicket haul in the final against South Africa.
Harmanpreet Kaur was recognised with the captain’s award after guiding India to the world title, completing white-ball series victories in England and securing her second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title with Mumbai Indians. Her match-winning 66 in the WPL final against Delhi Capitals also earned her the women’s T20 leagues batting award.
South Africa’s WTC Triumph Reflected in Men’s Awards
While South Africa Women endured the disappointment of another World Cup final defeat, the men’s team achieved a major milestone by winning the World Test Championship, defeating Australia by five wickets in the final at Lord’s. Their achievements were acknowledged in the awards list.
Aiden Markram was named men’s Test batter of the year for his fourth-innings century in the WTC final. Temba Bavuma, who scored a crucial 66 despite dealing with a hamstring injury during the chase, was selected as men’s captain of the year for leading South Africa to the WTC title, a Test series sweep in India, and ODI series wins in Australia and England.
Fast bowler Marco Jansen, instrumental in South Africa’s 2-0 Test series win in India, narrowly missed out on the Test bowling honour, which went to Australia’s Mitchell Starc. Starc secured the award after his remarkable figures of 7 for 58 against England on the opening day of the Ashes Test in Perth.
Performances Across T20 Leagues and International Cricket
The women’s T20 leagues bowling award was claimed by 21-year-old UP Warriorz pacer Kranti Gaud. In her debut season, she produced figures of 4 for 25 against Delhi Capitals, dismissing Rodrigues, Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma in the process.
England’s Phil Salt was honoured with the men’s T20I batting award for his unbeaten 141 from 60 balls against South Africa at Old Trafford. The innings not only became England’s fastest T20I century but also their highest individual score in the format and powered the team to a record total of 304.
Australian allrounder Beau Webster was named men’s debutant of the year after scoring four half-centuries — including a series-clinching effort in his maiden Test in Sydney against India — and taking eight wickets in seven Tests. India pacer N Shree Charani received the women’s debutant award after an impressive start to her international career, including a four-wicket haul on T20I debut in England and a tally of 14 wickets in the ODI World Cup, second only to Deepti Sharma for India.
Charani, like Harmanpreet, collected two awards. Her second honour, for women’s T20I bowling, followed her four-wicket performance against England at Trent Bridge, in a match where opener Smriti Mandhana’s maiden T20I century proved pivotal. Mandhana was subsequently named women’s T20I batter of the year for that innings.
Associate Performers Also Recognised
The men’s Associate batting award went to Max O’Dowd for his unbeaten 158 off 130 balls during Netherlands’ successful 370-run chase against Scotland in Dundee — the third-highest successful chase in ODI history.
Meanwhile, seamer Harry Manenti secured the men’s Associate bowling award after his figures of 5 for 31 against Scotland in a qualifier at The Hague played a key role in Italy’s qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
