Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has identified two standout performers from the Indian men’s team in 2025, beginning with Varun Chakravarthy as his choice for Bowler of the Year. He also named Abhishek Sharma as Player of the Year, crediting his consistent impact.

“I would choose Varun Chakravarthy as India’s bowler of the year. He’s been a real MVP. Each time the team has relied on him, he’s brought that X-factor, and opponents have found him difficult to decode. His form will play a major role in shaping India’s prospects at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Above all, he’s a bowler built for the T20 forma,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.

“He was left out at one point, but he reinvented his game, earned his way back into the side, and now sits at the top of the T20I rankings. Cricket wasn’t even his first career as he was an architect. He began as a mystery spinner, bowled in Chennai’s fifth division, earned an opportunity as a net bowler, impressed, and later showcased his skills in the TNPL, catching the attention of talent scouts. It’s been a remarkable journey. From India’s point of view, Varun Chakravarthy is my pick for bowler of the year,” he said.

Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Abhishek Sharma, expressing confidence that the left-handed opener has the potential to become India’s next-generation X-factor.

“It’s not merely the emergence of Abhishek Sharma. It feels like the arrival of India’s next X-factor. If I had to single out one player who enjoyed the most outstanding year for India in 2025, it would be him, given how consistently and impressively he has batted,” he added.

Abhishek Sharma has enjoyed a remarkable run in T20Is this year, scoring 859 runs across 21 games at an average of 42.95 and an outstanding strike rate of 193.46, laced with a century and five half-centuries.