Who was named as Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2016, based on outstanding international performances?

Introduction / Context:
Wisden Cricketers Almanack is often called the bible of cricket. Each year it names a player as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World based on outstanding performances in international cricket across formats. This question asks about the player who received that title for the year 2016. It checks your knowledge of recent cricket history and major international recognitions awarded to top players.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World title for 2016.
• The options are M. S. Dhoni, Musharaf Ali, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
• The award is based on international performance, not only domestic cricket or popularity.
• You must recall which player dominated world cricket in that period.

Concept / Approach:
In 2016, Virat Kohli had an exceptional year across formats, scoring large volumes of runs in Test matches, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals. His consistency, match winning performances, and leadership were widely recognised. Wisden accordingly named him the Leading Cricketer in the World. M. S. Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin are also highly successful Indian cricketers, but this specific title in 2016 went to Kohli. Musharaf Ali in this list does not correspond to a globally recognised leading international player for that period.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key phrase: Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World, 2016. Step 2: Recall whose batting performances in 2016 were extraordinary at the international level. Step 3: Note that Virat Kohli scored heavily in all formats and was widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world at that time. Step 4: Recognise that while M. S. Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin were important, they did not receive this specific Wisden global title in 2016. Step 5: Select Virat Kohli as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to remember that Wisden often highlights dominating batsmen or bowlers whose statistics and influence stand far above others. In scorecards and year end summaries for 2016, Virat Kohli is consistently visible at the top in every format. Because this pattern matches the idea of a single leading cricketer across the world, it confirms that he is the appropriate choice. Specialist bowlers or captains sometimes win the title, but in 2016 the balance of evidence strongly favours Kohli.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
M. S. Dhoni: A legendary captain and finisher, but he did not receive the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World title for 2016.
Musharaf Ali: Not recognised as the global leading cricketer for that year, and this name is likely included only to distract.

Ravichandran Ashwin: He had excellent performances and gained awards like ICC Cricketer of the Year, but the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2016 was Virat Kohli.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes candidates confuse different awards from ICC, Wisden, and other cricket bodies. For example, they may recall that Ashwin received an ICC award and mistakenly attribute the Wisden title to him. Another pitfall is to assume that the captain of the national team always receives global titles. In reality, these honours are performance based and vary year to year. Reading the exact wording of the question and matching it with the specific award and year is crucial.

Final Answer:
Wisden named Virat Kohli as the Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2016.