LONDON, April 14 (V7N) — Indian cricketers dominated the Wisden cricket awards announced Monday, with men’s Test captain Shubman Gill and women’s star Deepti Sharma among the honorees in the sport’s most prestigious annual publication.

The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, regarded as cricket’s “Bible” since its founding in 1864, named four Indian players in its five cricketers of the year list, reflecting India’s strong performances in the thrilling 2‑2 drawn Test series in England last year.
Indian dominance in Wisden awards

Shubman Gill — Test captain, honored for his prolific batting, including scores of 269 and 161 at Edgbaston. He also received the Wisden Trophy for Test performance of the year.

Ravindra Jadeja — spin‑bowling all‑rounder recognized for his match‑winning contributions.

Rishabh Pant — wicketkeeper‑batsman celebrated for his aggressive batting and resilience.

Mohammed Siraj — fast bowler honored for his incisive spells in English conditions.

The only non‑Indian among the five was Haseeb Hameed, former England Test opener, who led Nottinghamshire to the County Championship in 2025.
Women’s and T20 honors

Deepti Sharma was named Wisden’s leading women’s cricketer of the year, succeeding compatriot Smriti Mandhana, for her all‑round brilliance in India’s 50‑over World Cup triumph.

Mitchell Starc received the men’s global award.

Abhishek Sharma was named Wisden’s leading T20 cricketer of the year for his prolific run‑scoring.

Editorial criticism

Wisden editor Lawrence Booth used the Almanack to criticize the growing Indian influence in English cricket’s Hundred, noting that four of the eight franchises are now linked to IPL team owners. He warned the competition risks becoming an “IPL proxy event” serving Indian business interests more than English cricket.

Booth also condemned England’s disastrous Ashes campaign, describing the 4‑1 defeat to Australia as “feckless, reckless and legless.” He cited poor planning, confused tactics, and off‑field excesses, including reports of heavy drinking during a mid‑tour break.

“In the game’s long history, it is hard to think of a privilege so carelessly squandered, a chance so blithely spurned,” Booth wrote. “England got what they deserved. What a waste. What a shame.”
Significance

The awards underscore India’s rising dominance in world cricket, with recognition across formats — Test, ODI, and T20 — while also spotlighting concerns about the commercialization of English domestic competitions.

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