2025: A Year of Triumphs and Trials for Indian Cricket
Overview of Indian Cricket in 2025
The Indian cricket team experienced a tumultuous 2025, filled with remarkable victories, unexpected defeats, and controversies that kept fans engaged. This year highlighted the team's journey, showcasing their ability to bounce back from challenges while also facing intense scrutiny from the media and fans alike.
As the year draws to a close, let's take a look back at how the Indian cricket team navigated through a series of highs and lows.
India's Dominance in White-Ball Cricket
Throughout 2025, Team India excelled in white-ball formats, starting and finishing the year with series victories. They began with a T20I series win against England and wrapped up with another T20I triumph over South Africa.
In ODIs, India played three series, winning two against England and South Africa, while facing a defeat against Australia. Under Suryakumar Yadav's captaincy, the team maintained an unbeaten streak in T20Is, winning all three series against England, Australia, and South Africa, achieving a remarkable 75% win rate across 12 matches.
Championship Wins
In addition to their white-ball success, India clinched both the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup in 2025. Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, they ended a 12-year wait for the Champions Trophy by defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final held at Dubai International Stadium.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav's team successfully defended their Asia Cup title, marking their ninth victory in the tournament by overcoming Pakistan in the final, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: A Year of Mixed Emotions
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had a memorable yet tragic year. After 17 seasons, they finally lifted the IPL trophy by defeating Punjab Kings in a thrilling final at Narendra Modi Stadium.
However, their victory celebration was overshadowed by a tragic incident at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where a stampede occurred during a victory parade, resulting in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries. The lack of crowd control and security measures were cited as contributing factors.
In response to the tragedy, RCB initiated the RCB Cares program, providing financial assistance to the families of the victims.
Retirement of Key Players
The year also saw the retirement of cricket legends Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara from various formats. Rohit and Kohli stepped away from Test cricket, while Pujara announced his retirement from international play after being overlooked for selection.
Rohit's retirement followed his removal from the Test captaincy after a disappointing series against New Zealand and Australia. Kohli's decision came after a period of speculation regarding his future in the format, while Pujara, a stalwart of the batting lineup, recognized that his chances of returning to the Test side were slim.
Challenges in Test Cricket
Indian Test cricket faced significant challenges in 2025, with inconsistent performances leading to scrutiny. Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, the team played three Test series, winning one against the West Indies, drawing another against England, and suffering a whitewash against South Africa.
The year began poorly with a loss in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, resulting in a series defeat. India also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time.
Despite a strong start to the new World Test Championship cycle with a series draw against England, the home series against South Africa proved disastrous, culminating in a historic 408-run defeat.
Women’s Cricket Achievements
While the men's team faced ups and downs, the Indian women's cricket team celebrated a historic achievement by winning the ODI World Cup. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, they triumphed over South Africa in the final, ending a 47-year wait for the title.
After a shaky start in the tournament, the Women in Blue secured their place in the semifinals and then defeated Australia in a thrilling match. In the final, they set a target of 299 runs, successfully bowling out South Africa for 246 to claim victory.
Controversies During the Asia Cup
The Asia Cup 2025 was marred by controversy, beginning with India's refusal to shake hands with Pakistan in protest against a terror attack. Tensions escalated during the Super 4 stage, leading to disciplinary actions against players from both teams for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Despite winning the Asia Cup, India celebrated without the trophy due to disputes with the Asian Cricket Council over comments made by its chairman. Eventually, an amicable resolution was reached to ensure India received their trophy.