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As the 2025 cricketing calendar draws to a close, the debate over who will lift the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy is reaching a fever pitch. This year has been a masterclass in all-format excellence, defined by India’s Champions Trophy glory, a high-octane Ashes battle, and the rise of a new breed of all-format stars.
While many specialists dominated single formats, the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award rewards those who displayed sustained brilliance across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. From Pakistan’s new versatile leader to India’s run-machine captain, here are the top five contenders for 2025.
5 frontrunners for ICC Cricketer of the Year 2025
1. Shubman Gill (India)
Gill has truly owned 2025, marking his arrival not just as a premier batter but as a leader of global stature. Taking over the reins from Rohit Sharma as India’s all-format captain was never going to be easy, but Gill embraced the responsibility with remarkable maturity and consistency.
He piled up a staggering 1,764 international runs, finishing the year as the highest run-scorer in world cricket. His output wasn’t inflated by one format either—Gill delivered across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, averaging close to 50 in 35 matches.
The defining moment of his year came at Edgbaston, where his monumental 269 against England rewrote the record books as the highest individual Test score by an Indian captain. Add seven international centuries and a Champions Trophy triumph, and Gill has built a near-flawless case.
👉 Verdict: Leadership, volume runs, big-match performances—Gill ticks every box and enters the race as the frontrunner.
2. Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)
If one word defines Salman’s 2025, it’s indispensable. Thrust into leadership roles in white-ball cricket, he became Pakistan’s glue across formats, featuring in 56 international matches, more than any other contender on this list. Salman scored 1,569 runs, often in pressure situations, while also contributing with the ball and excelling in the slips—grabbing 32 Test catches, a remarkable number for a non-specialist fielder.
His Champions Trophy campaign elevated his stature further. Calm under pressure, Salman played the innings of his life with a maiden ODI century (134) against South Africa, steering Pakistan through a tense chase.
👉 Verdict: His workload, adaptability, and leadership under scrutiny make him a serious contender despite stiff competition.
3. Joe Root (England)
Root continues to age like fine wine. Even after stepping away from T20Is, his grip over Tests and ODIs in 2025 was so commanding that he still finished with 1,598 international runs, the third-highest tally worldwide. This year also saw Root climb further into cricketing immortality as he became the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. In ODIs, he was peerless—scoring 808 runs at an average of 65.77, topping the charts.
His unbeaten 166 against West Indies was vintage Root: unhurried, technically pristine, and utterly ruthless once set. Matching Gill with seven international centuries, Root showed that class truly is permanent.
👉 Verdict: Root’s Bradman-like consistency in the longer formats keeps him firmly in the conversation.
Also READ: Top 5 contenders for ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year 2025
4. Jacob Duffy (New Zealand)
In a year dominated by batters, Duffy stood tall as the bowler who refused to be overshadowed. He ended 2025 as the highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 81 wickets across formats. Duffy was especially devastating in Tests, claiming 25 wickets in just four matches at an extraordinary average of 16.28. His ability to extract movement, hit the deck hard, and exploit conditions made him New Zealand’s trump card.
What set him apart was his white-ball impact as well. With 53 T20I wickets, Duffy proved he could adapt seamlessly, whether swinging the new ball or executing clever variations at the death.
👉 Verdict: When matches needed turning, Duffy delivered—making him the standout bowler of 2025.
5. Shai Hope (West Indies)
Hope may not always grab headlines, but his numbers in 2025 are impossible to ignore. He finished just four runs behind Gill with 1,760 runs, making him the second-highest run-scorer globally. Playing 42 matches, the second-most among the contenders, Hope balanced the dual role of wicketkeeper and top-order batter with remarkable composure. He struck 5 centuries and 9 fifties, offering reliability in a West Indies side finding its feet again.
His value extended beyond stats. Hope’s calm leadership and match-saving innings—especially during the tough New Zealand tour—played a major role in the Caribbean resurgence.
👉 Verdict: Consistency, durability, and all-format excellence make Hope a genuine Sobers Trophy contender.
Also READ: Top 5 contenders for ICC Men’s ODI cricketer of the Year 2025
