In a cricket-obsessed nation like India, one would expect names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, or Jasprit Bumrah to dominate Google’s search charts. But 2025 delivered an unexpected twist, none of these stars made it to the Top 10 Google Searches in India this year.
A 14-Year-Old Tops India’s Search Charts
The most searched person in India was not a cricketing legend or a Bollywood superstar, but 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. His meteoric rise in online popularity reflects a shift in audience behaviour, with younger talent and fresh faces capturing national attention.
Following closely behind was Priyansh Arya at No. 2, and Abhishek Sharma at No. 3. In women’s cricket, emerging stars took the spotlight, with Jemimah Rodrigues ranking 5th and Smriti Mandhana at 7th, signalling a rising interest in the women’s game after their World Cup triumph at home.
Pakistan’s Search Trends Offer an Even Bigger Surprise
When we turn to Pakistan, the story becomes even more intriguing. Despite being national icons, players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi were nowhere to be found in Pakistan’s Top 10 Google searches.
Instead, topping their list was, wait for it, an Indian cricketer.
Abhishek Sharma Becomes Pakistan’s Most Searched Cricketer
Yes, Pakistan’s most Googled cricketer this year was Abhishek Sharma. After his explosive knocks against Pakistan during the Asia Cup, curiosity surrounding him skyrocketed across the border. Pakistani fans, it seems, were more invested in this Indian rising star than their own established heroes.
A New Era of Online Curiosity
These unexpected search patterns reveal a broader shift: today’s audience is more global, more curious, and increasingly drawn to fresh stories rather than familiar legends. As digital behaviour continues to evolve, it’s clear that the stars capturing attention in 2025 aren’t always the ones we expect.
Can Virat Kohli reach 100 international centuries? Here's the math
