A cricketer holds a red ball in gloved hands, symbolizing the top cricketers everyone talked about in 2025

Top 10 Cricketers Everyone Talked About in 2025

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Cricket in 2025 was all about the noise, the spotlight, and the conversations that never really stopped; whether you were at a stadium, scrolling through Instagram, or glued to a late-night highlight reel.

Some names just kept coming up. They were the match-winners, the record-breakers, the faces fans couldn’t stop following.

Here’s a look at the top cricketers who ruled the talk in 2025, not by chance, but by putting on a show, staying relevant, and connecting with fans on every level.

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli in full focus during a Test match
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Fastest to reach 14,000 ODI runs, alongside Tendulkar and Sangakkara

Even after stepping away from Test cricket in May 2025, Virat Kohli was everywhere. From mainstream cricketing forums to fringe platforms like Leon, Kohli’s name was used in promotional campaigns. If cricket had a face in 2025, it was still his.

With over 273 million Instagram followers, the kind of reach he had off the field was unmatched, and on the field, he wasn’t slowing down either.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Scored 657 runs in IPL 2025 for Royal Challengers Bangalore at an average of 54.75.
  • Became the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs, joining only Tendulkar and Sangakkara in that elite club.
  • Crushed 51 ODI centuries, setting a new all-time record.

Kohli’s 84-run knock in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia had fans calling it one of his best innings under pressure. The “Chase Master” lived up to his name once again.

Stat Value
ODI Centuries 51
IPL 2025 Runs 657 (Avg: 54.75)
Instagram Followers 273 million

2. MS Dhoni


He may have retired from international cricket years ago, but MS Dhoni remains a headline magnet.

In 2025, he continued captaining Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, and if social media chatter is anything to go by, fans still saw him as their leader.

Why Everyone Was Talking

Even without international duties, Dhoni had a strong hold on the cricket narrative.

Stat Value
Instagram Followers 50 million
Total Matches 538 (Intl)
IPL Team Chennai Super Kings

3. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah poses in front of a white backdrop during a professional photoshoot
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Bumrah was the first Indian pacer to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy

If 2024 was Jasprit Bumrah’s year, then 2025 was the encore. His ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award (for 2024) was announced in January, and the talk didn’t stop there.

Bumrah became the first Indian pacer to receive the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, and he owned it.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Took 71 Test wickets in 2024 at a staggering average of 14.92.
  • Delivered for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 with 12 wickets in 12 games.
  • Claimed 32 wickets against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series at just over 13 a piece.

His consistency across formats turned him into the gold standard for fast bowling in 2025.

Stat Value
Test Wickets (2024) 71 (Avg: 14.92)
IPL 2025 Wickets 12 (Avg: 17.55)
Awards ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, Polly Umrigar Award

4. Smriti Mandhana

 

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A post shared by Smriti Mandhana (@smriti_mandhana)

Smriti Mandhana was the headline act for Indian women’s cricket in 2025. Stylish yet aggressive, she dominated the ODI charts and picked up accolades that solidified her place among the all-time greats.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Scored 747 ODI runs in 2024, averaging 57.46, with four centuries, a record.
  • Named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year and BCCI’s Best International Women’s Cricketer in 2025.
  • Played a vital role in India’s Women’s Championship campaign.

Mandhana’s strokeplay and consistency made her an inspiration, not just in India, but around the world.

Stat Value
ODI Runs (2024) 747 (Avg: 57.46)
ODI Centuries 4
Awards BCCI Best Women’s Cricketer, ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year

5. Babar Azam

Babar Azam speaks during a post-match presentation wearing Pakistan’s green kit
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Babar proved that leadership and batting skills work together

Babar Azam led Pakistan into the Champions Trophy final and stayed among the top-ranked ODI batters.

Fans praised not only his captaincy but also his ability to anchor and accelerate, often in the same innings.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Guided Pakistan to the Champions Trophy final with clutch performances.
  • Named in the Team of the Tournament by the ICC.
  • He has over 6 million Instagram followers, continuing to expand his global appeal.

Babar showed that leadership and artistry with the bat could go hand in hand.

Stat Value
Instagram Followers 6 million
Total International Matches 250+
Captaincy Role Pakistan

6. Steve Smith

@primevideosportaunz How good is it to have Steve Smith back in the team 😍🔥 We’re hoping for a couple of bat raises against the West Indies 🤩🏏 #cricket #SteveSmith #cricketicons #GOAT #WIvAUS #AustralianCricketTeam ♬ original sound – Primevideosportaunz


2025 marked the end of Steve Smith’s ODI career, and fans had plenty to say about it.

Smith walked away with 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28, and his exit post-Champions Trophy sparked a wave of tributes.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Retired from ODIs after the Champions Trophy.
  • Remained active in Tests and T20s, still delivering classy knocks.
  • Remembered for his grit and eccentric brilliance.

Stat Value
ODI Runs 5,800 (Avg: 43.28)
ODI Centuries 12
Formats Played (2025) Test, T20

7. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill addresses the media during a press conference ahead of a Test series in England
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Gill’s calm and skill at the crease earned praise and victories.

If there was a breakout superstar in 2025, it was Shubman Gill. His Champions Trophy performance, capped by a Player of the Series award, made it clear he was ready to carry India’s top-order hopes.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Scored 259 runs at 86.33 in the Champions Trophy, including a century.
  • Helped Gujarat Titans with steady performances in IPL 2025.
  • Seen as a future leader, both on and off the pitch.

Gill’s confidence and maturity at the crease won hearts and matches alike.

Stat Value
ODI Runs (2025) 259 (Avg: 86.33)
ODI Centuries 1
Award Player of the Series, Champions Trophy

8. Rachin Ravindra


Rachin Ravindra quietly turned into a star in 2025. His name echoed across global cricket boards after a sensational run in the Champions Trophy.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Named Player of the Tournament in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
  • Made vital contributions with both bat and ball.
  • Drafted by Trent Rockets in The Hundred 2025.

Rachin was the heartbeat of New Zealand’s tournament success and proved his value across continents.

Stat Value
Role All-rounder
Highlight Player of the Tournament, Champions Trophy
The Hundred Signed by Trent Rockets

9. Travis Head

Travis Head stands focused at the crease in Australia’s yellow kit
Source: Youtube/Screenshot, Head’s bold, steady game pushed Australia forward

Travis Head had a beast of a year in 2024, and it rolled right into 2025. With awards stacking up and clutch knocks across formats, he became one of Australia’s most valuable players.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Won the Allan Border Medal and Men’s ODI Player of the Year at the Australian Cricket Awards 2025.
  • Scored 1,427 runs in 2024, including four centuries.
  • Played critical innings in World Test Championship matches.

Head’s aggressive yet reliable approach kept Australia on the front foot.

Stat Value
Runs (2024) 1,427 (4 centuries)
Awards Allan Border Medal 2025, ODI Player of the Year

10. Amelia Kerr


Amelia Kerr kept pushing boundaries in 2025. Her all-round performances were instrumental in New Zealand’s T20 success, and her ICC awards made her one of the sport’s most decorated athletes of the year.

Why Everyone Was Talking

  • Won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year and Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2024 (announced in 2025).
  • Consistently delivered with both bat and ball.
  • Became a central figure in New Zealand’s international success.

Kerr’s rise wasn’t just about stats; it was about setting new standards.

Stat Value
Key Awards ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, T20I Cricketer of the Year
Team New Zealand

What Drove the Chatter in 2025?

Social Media Buzz

Platforms like Instagram and X shaped the spotlight in 2025. Kohli’s every selfie, Dhoni’s calm stares from the dugout, and Bumrah’s post-match insights triggered hundreds of thousands of reactions. Influencers and fan accounts (@CricCrazyJohns, @ImTanujSingh) constantly fed the cycle.

Big Tournaments

The ICC Champions Trophy was the stage for fireworks, with players like Babar, Gill, and Ravindra emerging as the most discussed.

And the IPL, with its ₹27 crore price tag for Rishabh Pant, kept the drama going well into the summer.

Awards Season

The ICC and BCCI awards helped draw attention to year-long performances, giving fans and media plenty to talk about. The recognition of players like Bumrah, Mandhana, and Kerr fueled major conversations.

Major Retirements


The exits of Kohli (from Tests), Smith (from ODIs), and others like Rohit Sharma, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis turned social media into a memorial wall of memories, videos, and tributes.

Final Thoughts

2025 gave us more than just cricket. It gave us legends bowing out, stars being born, and matches that turned into memories.

Deepak Hooda quietly carved out his own space with clutch middle-order knocks that didn’t go unnoticed.

There’s no official score for who got talked about most. But if conversation is currency in the modern game, these cricketers cashed in big. And based on how things look, we’re not done hearing their names anytime soon.

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