Abhishek Sharma has been named India’s best player of 2025 by former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who credits the youthful opener for changing the team’s strategy at the top of the order in Twenty20 Internationals. Ashwin also pushed the selectors to give Abhishek a chance to make his ODI debut, arguing that the left-hander has performed well enough to be given an opportunity in the 50-over format.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin highlighted how Abhishek’s courageous batting has transformed India’s powerplay strategy and referred to him as the face of the country’s future cricketers.
“It’s not just the arrival of Abhishek Sharma, but the arrival of India’s next generation X-factor player. If there is one player who has been the best for India in 2025, it has to be him. He has batted really well. He has reimagined India’s powerplay batting and has been exceptional. I would love to see him in the ODI format as well. I think he will probably be the Men’s team player of the year.”
Throughout the year, Abhishek’s influence in the shortest format has been crucial. The left-hander has frequently turned matches one-sided in the first few overs by putting opposition bowlers under pressure during the powerplay. He is an important part of India’s T20I setup because of his ability to blend planned aggressiveness with clean striking.
Ashwin’s evaluation is supported by the numbers. Abhishek struck at a remarkable strike rate of 193.46 while scoring 859 runs at an average of 42.95 in 21 Twenty20 International matches in 2025. He has stood out from the others thanks to his explosiveness and consistency, especially under pressure.
Abhishek is expected to return to action when India plays New Zealand in a five-match Twenty20 International series in January. With Abhishek firmly established as one of the team’s most key players going into the tournament build-up, the New Zealand series is expected to have a major impact on how India prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026.
In addition, Ashwin nominated Varun Chakravarthy India’s bowler of the year, citing the mystery spinner’s pivotal role in India’s victories in important tournaments like the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. During those campaigns, Chakravarthy’s ability to dominate games in the middle overs was crucial.
“I will pick Varun Chakravarthy as India’s bowler of the year. He was a huge MVP. Whenever the team used him, he showed that X-factor. People have found it hard to pick him,” Ashwin said.
“His fortunes will be very key to India’s chances at the 2026 T20 World Cup as well. Secondly, he is a T20 bowler,” he noted.
Ashwin also reflected on Chakravarthy’s incredible comeback to the top following his earlier career setback.
“He was out of the side, then he reinvented himself and came back, and now he is at the top of the T20I rankings.
“He was an architect, cricket was not his first profession. He started mystery bowling, bowled in the fifth division in Chennai, then asked for a chance in net bowling, came back and bowled well and showed all the scouts how he bowled in the TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League). It has been a journey to remember,” he said.
“From an Indian perspective, Varun Chakravarthy is the bowler of the year for me,” he added.
Varun has been one of India’s most dependable wicket-takers in white-ball cricket, taking 10 wickets in four ODIs and 36 wickets in 20 T20Is.
