The ICC Awards 2024 marked a glittering celebration of cricketing excellence, honoring the players who captivated fans and carried their teams to glory with exceptional performances. Held in January 2025, the event showcased not just individual brilliance but the sport’s expanding global footprint, with winners hailing from cricketing powerhouses like India and New Zealand to emerging nations such as Namibia and Afghanistan.
The story of the year undoubtedly belonged to India’s Jasprit Bumrah. In a stellar comeback following a debilitating back injury in 2023, Bumrah was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Men’s Cricketer of the Year and the Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year—making him the first Indian since Virat Kohli in 2018 to bag the prestigious Sobers honor.
Bumrah’s dominance was evident across formats. He finished as the leading Test wicket-taker, claiming 71 wickets at an astonishing average of 14.92 and strike rate of 30.1. On top of his Test accolades, he played a critical role in India’s triumphant campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, showcasing his versatility and match-winning impact. Reflecting on his success, Bumrah remarked humbly, “I owe this to my teammates, coaches, and the endless support of fans. Hard work and teamwork have been my pillars.”
In the women’s cricket category, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr emerged as the standout player. Kerr dominated the awards, earning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Women’s Cricketer of the Year and Women’s T20 Cricketer of the Year honors. She was pivotal in New Zealand’s victorious ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, where her all-around excellence—including her recognition as Player of the Tournament—set her apart.
With her leadership and consistent performances, Kerr reinforced her position as one of the finest all-rounders in the modern game, exemplifying the growing strength of women’s cricket on the global stage.
India’s Smriti Mandhana continued to be a dominant force in ODI cricket, clinching the Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award for the second time. Mandhana amassed 747 runs at an average of 57.46 in 2024, a testament to her unparalleled consistency and technical brilliance. As India’s all-format vice-captain, her contributions went beyond her runs, embodying strong leadership on and off the field. “None of this would be possible without my teammates, coaches, and family,” Mandhana shared, embodying humility alongside competitive excellence.
The ICC also celebrated budding talent shaping the future of cricket. Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis was named the Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year after amassing 1,451 runs across all formats, while South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen earned Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year, reflecting the significant strides being made in nurturing women’s cricket.
Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus and UAE’s Esha Oza received recognition as Associate Cricketers of the Year for their respective performances, signaling cricket’s ongoing growth in emerging regions and the surging potential of associate nations to challenge the traditional cricketing elite.
While individuals shone, the awards also underscored stellar team achievements. India’s victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and New Zealand’s triumph in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup stood out as highlights, with Jasprit Bumrah and Amelia Kerr playing instrumental roles in their teams’ success.
Moreover, England’s Richard Illingworth was applauded for his crucial role as an impartial arbiter on the field, receiving the Umpire of the Year award—a reflection of his expertise and dedication to the game.