Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana named Wisden’s Leading Cricketers of 2024

Mandhana’s Record-Breaking History

Smriti Mandhana has been recognized as the first Indian woman since the award’s establishment to achieve the title twice. She earned the title in the women’s category after completing the year with 1659 international runs, which was recorded as the top yearly performance ever by a woman.

Her stats included four centuries in ODIs, highlighting his consistency and adaptability. She attained the number one position in the T20I run-charts with 763 runs and added 747 in ODIs.

 The key achievement in her career was the dominant run against South Africa mid-year, where she scored 117, 136, and 90 in the three ODIs— a record 343 runs in a bilateral series— and covered with 149 in a one-off Test. She also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden Women’s Premier League title.

India’s Ace: Jasprit Bumrah

As for Bumrah, he was honored as the men’s leading cricketer in the world after a dominant all-format display. He took up 71 Test wickets in 2024 at an average of 14.92, recorded the most ever by any bowler at such an economy in a calendar year.

His performances contributed pivotal moments across key matches: From eliminating England’s top order in Visakhapatnam to delivering match-turning spells in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Bumrah’s impact remained constant. 

He was also awarded as the first bowler to reach 200 Test wickets at an average below 20. His leadership tenure in the absence of Rohit Sharma in Perth also earned praise. “Fast bowlers are smart people,” Bumrah said, challenging conventional stereotypes around fast-bowling captains.

"In an eventful year for Indian cricket, their success depended largely, if not entirely, on one factor: whether or not he had the ball. Rarely has a cricketer stood out so overwhelmingly as he did in 2024. It was Bumrah or bust," the publication wrote in their announcement.