The Australia vs England Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was the last international match of 2025 between full-member teams. England surprised Australia by winning the match by four wickets inside two days. Despite the loss, Australia ended the year with nine wins from 11 Test matches. South Africa were also strong in Tests, winning seven of their eight matches as the World Test Championship holders.

In ODI cricket, Team India had a very good year. They played 14 matches and won 11, including the Champions Trophy final. New Zealand also enjoyed success, winning 17 of their 20 ODI matches. Sri Lanka won seven of the 13 ODIs they played in 2025.

In T20Is, India won 15 of their 21 matches, while Australia won 10 of 16 games. Many batters produced impressive performances across formats during the year. Here is a look at the top five batters with the most runs in international cricket in 2025.

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5. Agha Salman (1,569 runs)

Pakistan batter Agha Salman finished fifth among the highest run-scorers in international cricket in 2025. He played 56 matches and 58 innings, scoring 1,569 runs at an average of 32.68 and a strike rate of 89.19. His tally included two centuries and nine half-centuries.

Salman scored 277 runs in five Test matches at an average of 27.70, with one fifty. In ODIs, he scored 667 runs in 17 matches at an average of 47.64 and a strike rate of 93.28, including two hundreds and three fifties. In T20Is, he scored 625 runs at a strike rate of 115.31, with five half-centuries.

4. Brian Bennett (1,585 runs)

Zimbabwe batter Brian Bennett finished fourth on the list. He played 39 matches and 46 innings, scoring 1,585 runs at an average of 35.22 and a strike rate of 109.31. He hit three centuries and eight fifties during the year.

The 22-year-old  batter scored 381 runs in nine Tests at an average of 25.40, with one hundred and two fifties. His best Test score was 139 against England in Nottingham. In five ODIs, he scored 268 runs at an average of 53.60, including a best of 169 against Ireland. Bennett also impressed in T20Is, scoring 936 runs in 25 matches at a strike rate of 147.86, with one century and six fifties.

3. Joe Root (1,613 runs)

Veteran England star Joe Root finished third on the list of top run-scorers in 2025. He played 25 matches and 33 innings, scoring 1,613 runs at an average of 53.76 and a strike rate of 71.97. His runs included seven centuries and five half-centuries.

Root scored 805 runs in 10 Test matches at an average of 50.31, with four hundreds and one fifty. He hit three centuries against India at home and also scored his first Test hundred in Australia with an unbeaten 138 in Brisbane during the Ashes. In ODIs, Root scored 808 runs in 15 matches at an average of 57.71. His best ODI score was an unbeaten 166 against the West Indies in Cardiff.

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2. Shai Hope (1,760 runs)

West Indies captain Shai Hope finished second on the list. He played 42 matches and 50 innings, scoring 1,760 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 82.24. He scored five centuries and nine half-centuries during the year.

Hope scored 534 runs in eight Tests at an average of 33.37, including two hundreds. His best Test score was 140 against New Zealand in Christchurch. In ODIs, he scored 670 runs in 15 matches at an average of 55.83. He also did well in T20Is, scoring 556 runs in 19 matches at a strike rate of 136.60, including a century. His best T20I score was an unbeaten 102 against Australia. 

1. Shubman Gill (1,764 runs)

India captain Shubman Gill topped the list of batters with the most runs in international cricket in 2025. He played 35 matches and 42 innings, scoring 1,764 runs at an average of 49 and a strike rate of 76.46. His runs included seven centuries and three half-centuries.

Gill had an outstanding year in Test cricket. In nine Tests, he scored 983 runs at an average of 70.21, with five centuries and one fifty. Four of his hundreds came in England, including a double century of 269 in Birmingham. He also scored an unbeaten 129 against West Indies in Delhi.

In ODIs, Gill scored 490 runs in 11 matches at an average of 49, with two centuries and two fifties. However, he struggled in T20Is. In 15 matches, he scored 291 runs, with a highest score of 47.

On Saturday (December 20), Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced the new captain and vice-captain of the men's national cricket team for the Test and ODI formats. These new decisions have been taken due to Craig Ervine's stepping down from the leadership roles. 

Richard Ngarava is new Zimbabwe Test and ODI captain

The 27-year-old Richard Ngarava, the left-arm fast bowler, has been named as the new Test and ODI captain of Zimbabwe men's national cricket team. He has played 156 international matches, including 11 Tests, 55 ODIs, and 90 T20Is.

Richard Ngarava made his international cricket debut in 2017 during the home ODI series against Afghanistan. In 2019, he made his T20I debut against Singapore in the Singapore Twenty20 Tri-Series. In 2021, the pacer made his Test debut during the home Test against Pakistan.

In his international cricket career, Ngarava has taken 25 Test wickets, 70 ODI wickets, and 108 T20I wickets. He is Zimbabwe's leading T20I wicket-taker and sixth most international wicket-taker. 

The September month was full of the shortest formats around the globe. Zimbabwe hosted Sri Lanka in the ODI and T20I series before the start of the T20 Asia Cup 2025 in the United Arab Emirates. India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, went through a successful and unbeaten campaign to lift the title by beating Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India’s opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, has continued to go through a breakout year with explosive run as he was named the Player of the Tournament. The southpaw creamed 314 runs in seven T20I innings at a strike rate of 200 with the help of three half-centuries. His aggressive play at the top of the order helped them dominate throughout the event.

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Abhishek also reached the highest batting rating ever recorded in men’s T20I history with 931 points. He continued to go through the rapid rise on the international stage. The Punjab-born will look to hold the same form and rhythm against Australia in the T20I series down under.

Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav nominated for ICC Men’s Player of September awards

The left-arm wrist spinner of the Blue Brigade, Kuldeep Yadav, has produced a dream run with the ball as it emerged as the leading wicket-taker at the T20 Asia Cup 2025 with 17 wickets at an economy rate of just over six. He began the competition with stunning figures of 4/7 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and finished with another four-fer against Pakistan.

Kuldeep picked up at least one wicket in all of India’s games as his ability to strike in the middle overs played a crucial role in their success. The third and last player of the list is Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett. He was in exceptional touch in September to nail 497 runs at a strike rate of 165.66 with an average of 55.22.

After topping the charts against Sri Lanka and Namibia, Brian carried the same form into the Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional final where he clubbed 72, 65, and 111 in the first three innings. Zimbabwe has also secured spot for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett has been ruled out of the remainder of the first Test against South Africa in Bulawayo after suffering a mild concussion. The 21-year-old was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Kwena Maphaka on Day 2 while attempting a pull shot. The ball took a top edge and hit him on the head. Although Bennett initially cleared the on-field concussion test and continued batting, he soon appeared uncomfortable and retired hurt shortly after.

He managed to score 19 off 25 balls before walking off the field, having faced just three more deliveries from South African debutant Codi Yusuf. Later in the day, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed that Bennett had sustained a mild concussion and, following standard protocols, would take no further part in the match. His absence is a blow to Zimbabwe, as they face a strong South African side in this important Test at Queens Sports Club.

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"Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett will play no further part in the ongoing Test match against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo after being diagnosed with a mild concussion. As per concussion protocols, he will take no further part in the match. Prince Masvaure has been named as his replacement, making his 10th appearance in Test cricket," the Zimbabwean press release stated.

Prince Masvaure called in as a replacement

In line with the ICC’s concussion substitute rules, Prince Masvaure was named as the replacement for Brian Bennett. The 36-year-old left-handed batter is set to make his 10th Test appearance. Masvaure last featured in a Test match against Ireland in July 2024, where he impressed with a half-century. His recent form in the 2024–25 Logan Cup has also been encouraging, having scored 165 runs across five innings at an average of 41.25, with a top score of an unbeaten 50.

South Africa declared first innings at 418/9 in the match earlier thanks to centuries from Lhuan-Dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch. Zimbabwe's reply got off to a rough start, losing both of their openers, Takudzwanashe Kaitano on a duck and Nick Welch on four, in the first five overs. However, experienced players Sean Williams (45) and Craig Ervine (24) held the innings together until lunch, guiding Zimbabwe to reach the break at 94/3.