Cricket
Not Virat Kohli or Babar Azam! This Indian Cricketer Is the Most Searched Athlete in Pakistan in 2025
Google has released its annual Year in Search 2025, revealing the most searched topics across various categories globally and country-wise. In cricket-loving Pakistan—where stars like Babar Azam and Virat Kohli usually dominate online trends—the list surprisingly crowned a different name as the most searched athlete of 2025. And it wasn’t a Pakistani superstar or one of India’s veteran icons.
The top spot in Pakistan was claimed by young Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, surpassing household names like Kohli, Babar, and Shaheen Afridi.
Why Abhishek Sharma Dominated Pakistan’s Search Trends
Abhishek Sharma’s sudden rise to fame in Pakistan can be attributed to his explosive performances during the Asia Cup 2025, where India and Pakistan met three times in just 15 days. His fearless batting style and aggressive strokeplay particularly grabbed attention.
His standout knocks against Pakistan:
- 31 off 13 balls (League stage)
- 74 off 39 balls (Super Four)
- Final: 5 runs, but India won thanks to Tilak Varma’s heroics
The biggest talking point was his ruthless attack on Pakistan’s premier pacer Shaheen Afridi, scoring heavily off him in the powerplay overs in both major matches. Pakistani fans and analysts were left stunned as Abhishek dismantled their bowling attack with ease.
This high-voltage rivalry ensured Abhishek’s name remained at the top of Pakistan’s Google searches throughout the year.
Most Searched Athletes in Pakistan (2025)
According to Google’s official list:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Hassan Nawaz
- Irfan Khan Niazi
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Muhammad Abbas
Surprisingly, neither Babar Azam nor Shaheen Afridi, nor even global star Virat Kohli, made it to the list.
Abhishek Sharma Among Top Google Searches in India Too
Abhishek’s popularity wasn’t limited to Pakistan. In India, he ranked third among the most searched personalities in 2025, behind:
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi
- Priyansh Arya
Both Suryavanshi and Arya enjoyed breakout seasons during the IPL 2025, which propelled their online popularity skyrocketing.
India–Pakistan Matches Not the Top Trend
Despite the usual hype around India vs. Pakistan matches, neither country listed those matches in their top trending searches. Instead:
- India’s most searched match: India vs England
- Pakistan’s most searched match: Pakistan vs South Africa
This shift highlights the increasing global interest in more competitive series and emerging cricketing narratives beyond the India–Pakistan rivalry.