ICC ODI Player of the Year 2025 nominees revealed: Kohli makes the cut

In a significant development, reports suggest that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finalised a shortlist of 10 players for the ODI Cricketer of the Year 2025 award. The elite list features Virat Kohli as the only Indian nominee, while current No.1 ODI batter Rohit Sharma has missed out despite a strong year.

According to a report by journalist Tanuj Singh, the final nominees are Virat Kohli, Matthew Breetzke, Joe Root, Shai Hope, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Adil Rashid, Sikandar Raza, Mitchell Santner and Jayden Seales. New Zealand lead the list with three players, the most from any country, while India and South Africa have one representative each.

A closer look at the 2025 performances of the nominees highlights why the competition is intense. Virat Kohli has enjoyed another outstanding year in ODIs, scoring 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10, including three centuries and four fifties. His consistency and match-winning ability once again underline his dominance in the 50-over format.

Breetzke and Root shine in a stacked field as Kohli leads India’s lone charge

South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke has been a revelation in his debut ODI year. The right-hander has amassed 706 runs from 12 matches, averaging 64.18, with a century and six fifty-plus scores. Joe Root, meanwhile, has continued his prolific run across formats, crossing 800 ODI runs in 2025 with three centuries.

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Among the bowlers, Matt Henry, Adil Rashid and Jayden Seales have been exceptional, sharing 88 wickets between them. Henry stands out as the leading wicket-taker of the year with 31 wickets in 13 innings, making him a strong contender.

The exclusion of Rohit Sharma has raised eyebrows. While the Indian skipper had a solid year and returned to peak fitness, his 650 runs in 14 innings fell just short when compared to the numbers produced by others on the list.

With Virat Kohli continuing to shine and preparing for a rare domestic return in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Indian great remains firmly in contention for yet another prestigious ICC honour.