Indian-origin leg-spinner mentored by Kuldeep Yadav wins 2025 Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year award, joins elite list of Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow

Indian-origin 18-year-old Aryaman Varma has been awarded with 2025 Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year award. The captain of Eton College joined the elite list of England cricketers Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler who have won the award during their school cricket days.

The young leg-spinner has been mentored by veteran Delhi Capitals (DC) left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav. He spent three years with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise as their net bowler. The teenager was a member of the Dubai Capitals squad led by David Warner that won the International League T20 2024/25. The Dubai Capitals side featured spinners Zahir Khan and Jeffrey Vandersay.

Varma took 45 wickets in the 2023 season and was nominated for the award as well but did not win it. Then, the Eton College skipper claimed 51 wickets at an average of over 12. He was impressive with the bat as well, scoring more than 300 runs.

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Born in Delhi, Aryaman's father, Munish Varma, played badminton and represented Delhi. Born in London, Aryaman and his brother Aarav started playing cricket when they were in Mumbai.

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Aryaman has represented Surrey County Cricket Club for half a decade. He was one of their top three wicket-takers but left the club to represent Kent. In two games for Kent's second XI, he got the opportunity to play against Zimbabwe A. He did not pick up a wicket against Zimbabwe A but conceded just 14 runs from four overs. He was his old self against Essex's second XI with three wickets in 10 overs bowled.

Bumrah, Mandhana honoured

Meanwhile, India men's cricket team's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and India women's cricket team's vice captain Smriti Mandhana have been named world's leading cricketers of the year in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Bumrah helped India win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 whereas Mandhana scored five ODI centuries and led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to maiden Women's Premier League (WPL) title.

West Indies' explosive wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran has been named the 'Leading T20 Player in the World'. 

England's Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, Liam Dawson and Dna Worrall have named among Wisden's five 'Cricketers of the Year'.