White-ball cricket will head into the new season after a thrilling 2025 that was filled with runs, wickets, and individual brilliance. As teams prepare for another brilliant year, the focus remains on players
who can adapt quickly across conditions and formats. The past year had numerous white-ball cricket matches, which will be the same case in 2026. Players will come in fresh for the new year and come all guns blazing.
Here are 5 players to watch in white-ball cricket this year
5. Matthew Breetzke
Proteas’ young batter Matthew Breetzke has been South Africa’s most reliable run-scorer in ODIs in 2025. The 26-year-old has scored 706 runs in just 12 ODIs, including a century and six half-centuries. Breetzke has shown the skills to anchor innings, giving South Africa much-needed stability at the top and middle order. His knocks of 72 in Ranchi and 68 in the successful 359 chase at Raipur. Breetzke’s runs have been crucial to South Africa’s ODI confidence in 2025 and will look the same next year.
4. Adil Rashid
England’s veteran white-ball spinner Adil Rashid enjoyed another clinical year, and he could be set for a sensational 2026. The experienced leg-spinner finished among the top ODI wicket-takers, claiming 30 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 23.63, including two four-wicket hauls. Rashid remained important to England’s middle-overs plans, regularly breaking partnerships. Even in his thirties, he troubles batters across conditions.
3. Jacob Duffy
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy enjoyed a sensational 2025. Featuring in 36 matches across formats, Duffy picked up 81 wickets, finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the year at an average of 17.11. He broke a 40-year-old record held by Sir Richard Hadlee, surpassing the legend’s tally of 79 wickets in a calendar year. He was effective in white-ball cricket, grabbing 21 wickets in 11 ODIs and 35 scalps in 21 T20Is, making 2025 a breakthrough year for himself. Entering a new year, the tall speedster will be confident to perform in the same manner.
2. Rohit Sharma
India's star opener Rohit Sharma finished the previous year as the No.1 ODI batter. Playing just the 50-over format, Rohit ended with 650 runs in 14 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 100.46. Rohit registered two centuries and four fifties. His purple patch included a career-first push to the No.1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings, backed by scores of 77 and an unbeaten 121 against Australia. Rohit also led India to their Champions Trophy victory. Keeping the 2027 World Cup in focus, the 38-year-old will look to continue his fine form and have a good run in 2026.
1. Virat Kohli
Former Indian skipperVirat Kohli had a remarkable calendar year in 2025. After retiring from Test cricket in May, Kohli put all his energy into the 50-over format and scored consistently, breaking records. He finished as India’s leading ODI run-scorer in the year with 651 runs, played a critical role in India’s Champions Trophy win, became the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs, and extended his tally to 53 ODI centuries. With the 50-over format being his primary focus, Kohli will enter 2026 by carrying the same form and will continue this remarkable run.
