YEAR ENDER 2025: As the curtains draw for this year for cricket, 2025 will be remembered as the year of the ‘Young Kings’ and the ‘Resilient Veterans.’ From Shubman Gill’s absolute dominance across formats to Shai Hope’s late-season surge to overtake him, the scoring charts have been a battlefield.
Before we dive into the specific data, here is the official roundup of the elite five who defined the batting landscape this year.
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The 2025 Year-Ender: Kings of the Crease
The race for the top run-getter was a nail-biter. While Shubman Gill held the lead for nearly ten months, West Indies’ Shai Hope staged a dramatic comeback in the final weeks of December during the tour of New Zealand to clinch the top spot by a whisker.
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Meanwhile, Joe Root continued his chase of Tendulkar’s records, and Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett emerged as the breakout star of the year, outscoring legends like Babar Azam and Virat Kohli.
Also Read: YEAR ENDER 2025: WTC Final to Ashes… Five iconic Test matches of 2025
2025: A Year of Statistical Masterclasses
The Battle for No. 1: Hope vs Gill
Shubman Gill was the favorite to finish as the year’s most prolific batter, largely thanks to a historic 754-run Test summer in England and his first double-century as captain (269). However, Shai Hope proved to be the ultimate marathon man. By playing 50 innings, the most of any top-tier batter, Hope used the December series against New Zealand to leapfrog Gill, finishing with 1,760 runs.
Joe Root’s Technical Perfection
Despite playing fewer matches (24) than anyone else on this list, Joe Root recorded the highest average (57.07). His seven centuries tied him with Gill for the most hundreds in 2025. Root’s year was defined by his "Red-Ball Reset," where he moved closer to becoming the all-time leading Test run-scorer.
The Arrival of Brian Bennett
The biggest surprise of 2025 was Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett. Scoring 1,585 runs at a blistering strike rate of 109.31, Bennett proved that associate and rising nations are no longer just making up the numbers. His 206 fours were the second-most in the world, signaling his aggressive "see-ball, hit-ball" philosophy.
Agha Salman: Pakistan’s Engine Room
While Pakistan’s top order faced scrutiny, Agha Salman was their most consistent performer. Appearing in a staggering 56 matches, Salman anchored the middle order in all formats. His versatility was his hallmark, ending the year with 1,569 runs and 11 scores of 50 or more.
List of top-5 most run-getters in all forms of the game
| Player | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Hope | WI | 42 | 1760 | 140 | 40.00 | 82.24 | 5 | 9 |
| Shubman Gill | IND | 35 | 1736 | 269 | 49.00 | 76.46 | 7 | 3 |
| Joe Root | ENG | 24 | 1598 | 166* | 57.07 | 73.03 | 7 | 5 |
| Brian Bennett | ZIM | 39 | 1585 | 169 | 35.22 | 109.31 | 3 | 8 |
| Agha Salman | PAK | 56 | 1569 | 134 | 32.68 | 89.19 | 2 | 9 |
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