The Ncakos316 2025 ODI Cricket Awards
- Ncakos316
- Dec 19, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
2025 has been quite a year for ODI cricket with two major tournaments taking place in the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women's World Cup. There have been some fantastic performances from both the men and women and I look to honor those here. To do this I have looked at stats and performances starting from January 1st, 2025. So, without further ado:
Men's ODI Batter of the Year 2025
Joe Root (England)
Honestly this award could have gone to any of Root, Daryl Mitchell, Matthew Breetzke or Virat Kohli but, with 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries at an average nearing 60 and a strike rate a shade under 100, it had to be Joe Root.
England did not have a great Champions Trophy, losing all three of their group stage fixtures, but in those matches Joe Root shone with the bat. He scored 225 runs (4th overall in the tournament) with a century in a tough chase against Afghanistan and a half-century against Australia. He followed that up with 260 runs in the series against the West Indies which included 166* in Cardiff. 175 runs in the series against South Africa then followed, including a century at Southampton. Root may not be as flashy as others in England's aggressive lineup but he has shown this year that he remains the rock in England's batting order and will be crucial for them in and leading up to the 2027 World Cup.
Men's ODI Bowler of the Year 2025
Matt Henry (New Zealand)
With the most wickets in the Champions Trophy, 31 wickets in 2025 at an average of under 19, it had to be Matt Henry. Henry was briefly ranked the world's number 1 bowler in early 2025 and the year he has had since has backed that up.
Despite a shoulder injury in the semi-final against South Africa that kept him out of the final, Henry still managed to top the wicket taking charts in the Champions trophy with 10 scalps (including an impressive five wicket haul against India) at an average of 16.7 in tough conditions for pace bowlers. Elsewhere, he took 9 wickets in a series against Sri Lanka and 5 more in the recently concluded series against the West Indies. Racking up 3 four wicket hauls, the aforementioned five wicket haul against India and only going wicketless on one occasion in 2025, Henry is a well-deserving winner of this award.
Men's ODI Newcomer of the Year 2025
Matthew Breetzke (South Africa)
Breetzke was an interesting selection in Rob Walter's Squad for the tri-series leading up to the Champions Trophy. There was definitely an argument to be made that others were more deserving of a place in the side but Breetzke had had a stellar List A season leading up to his selection, averaging near 60 in South Africa's domestic cup.
His selection was fully justified when, on debut, he scored 150 opening the batting. Even though this was in a losing cause, he had announced himself. This century was the start of a run of five 50+ scores in a row, making Breetzke the first batter to ever achieve this in their first 5 ODI innings. Breetzke also captained the Proteas in the series against Pakistan and finished the year strongly with runs against India which meant he finished the year with 706 runs at an average of 64.18. An astonishing start to what will hopefully be a lengthy career for Breetzke.
Men's Associate ODI Player of the Year 2025
Milind Kumar (USA)
It's hard to argue that any cricket player in the men's game has had a better year than Milind Kumar. 652 runs at an average of 81.5 and a strike rate of 99.23 which includes 5 half-centuries and 2 centuries against Canada and the UAE. His bowling stats are just as good: 20 wickets at an average of 18.3 and economy rate just over 4rpo.
Kumar was a star in what has been a good year for the USA, who won 10 of 12 ODIs including impressive wins over Namibia, Nepal, Oman and the UAE. He will be crucial for the USA who are looking to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
Women's ODI Batter of the Year 2025
Smriti Mandhana (India)
1362 runs at an average of 61.9 and a strike rate of 109.92 including 5 centuries and 5 half-centuries. These were the astonishing numbers achieved by Smriti Mandhana in 2025. Oh, and she helped India win their first ever Women's World Cup where she finished as the second highest runscorer.
Starting the year well with runs against Ireland which included an innings of 135 off just 80 balls she followed it up with a century against Sri Lanka and two back-to-back centuries in a series against Australia in September. One more century followed in the World Cup against New Zealand before she played an important knock of 45 in an opening stand of 104 in the final against South Africa. Mandhana has been a star for the India Women's team for years now and her batting went to new heights in 2025.
Women's ODI Bowler of the Year 2025
Sophie Ecclestone (England)
With 28 wickets in just 13 games at an average of 16.64, Sophie Ecclestone is a hugely deserving winner of this award. Not once did she go wicketless in 2025 and she took 3 or more wickets 5 times. Ecclestone finished as the third highest wicket taker at the Women's World Cup and helped England reach the Semi-Finals where, despite her taking 4 wickets, England lost to South Africa.
Other Awards
ODI Innings of the Year (men)
Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan) - 177 (146 balls, 12x4s & 6x6s) vs England
ODI Innings of the Year (women)
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) - 169 (143 balls, 20x4s & 4x6s) vs England
ODI Team of the Year (men)
New Zealand - played 20, won 17, lost 3
ODI Team of the Year (women)
India - played 23, won 15, lost 7, NR 1
Wicketkeeper of the Year (men)
Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) - 18 catches, 4 stumpings
Wicketkeeper of the Year (women)
Amy Jones (England) - 16 catches, 3 stumpings
All-rounder of the Year (men)
Michael Bracewell (New Zealand) - 368 runs @ 30.66, 17 wickets @ 31.88
All-rounder of the Year (women)
Deepti Sharma (India) - 596 runs @ 49.66, 39 wickets @ 27.10
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