Noman Ali made history in January 2025, becoming the first Pakistan spinner to claim a Test hat-trick. His stellar performances against the West Indies saw him take 16 wickets in the series, including a sensational 10-wicket haul in the second Test. His match-winning spells not only played a crucial role in Pakistan’s campaign but also reinforced his position as the team’s leading spinner. His dominant displays have earned him a nomination for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award.
January proved to be a month of spin dominance, with Jomel Warrican’s exceptional bowling helping West Indies draw the series against Pakistan and Varun Chakravarthy’s T20 brilliance making life difficult for England’s batters. These three spinners showcased their class on the international stage, leaving a lasting impact with their remarkable performances.
Jomel Warrican (West Indies)
Jomel Warrican delivered a career-best performance in Pakistan, playing a pivotal role in West Indies securing a hard-fought series draw.
On the spin-friendly pitches of Multan, Warrican was a constant threat to the Pakistani batting lineup. In the first Test, he produced a sensational 10-wicket match haul (10/101) and contributed an unbeaten 31* with the bat. Despite his efforts, West Indies fell short by 127 runs.
However, the left-arm spinner bounced back in the second Test, picking up four wickets in the first innings and following it up with a brilliant five-wicket haul in the second. His match figures of 9/70, coupled with a handy 54-run contribution with the bat, helped West Indies claim victory and level the series.
Overall, Warrican ended the series with 85 runs at an average of 42.50 and 19 wickets at an outstanding average of just nine, earning him the Player of the Series award.
Noman Ali (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s premier spinner, Noman Ali, was instrumental in his team’s performances against West Indies.
In the first Test, he picked up six wickets for 81 runs, but his finest moment came in the second Test when he etched his name in history. Noman ripped through the West Indies batting order, securing six wickets in the first innings, including a historic hat-trick—the first ever by a Pakistan spinner in Test cricket.
He followed up his first-innings heroics with another brilliant performance in the second innings, claiming four more wickets to complete a 10-wicket match haul (10/121).
By the end of January, Noman had taken 16 wickets at a remarkable average of 12.62 while also contributing 15 runs with the bat, cementing his status as one of Pakistan’s key match-winners.
Varun Chakravarthy (India)
Varun Chakravarthy continued his outstanding form since returning to the Indian squad in October 2024, playing a crucial role in India’s four-match T20I series against England in January.
Right from the start, his spin variations troubled English batters. In the series opener at Eden Gardens, Chakravarthy picked up 3/23, earning him the Player of the Match award. In Chennai, he went for 38 runs but managed to take the crucial wickets of Harry Brook and Jamie Overton.
His most dominant performance came in Rajkot during the third T20I, where he dismantled England’s batting lineup with a sensational five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/24. He wrapped up the series with two more wickets in the fourth T20I in Pune.
By the end of the series, Chakravarthy had taken 12 wickets at a phenomenal average of 9.41, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 7.01. His consistency and impact made him a standout performer for India.
With all three spinners delivering match-winning performances in January 2025, the race for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award remains fiercely competitive.