2025: A Year of Triumphs and Trials for Indian Cricket

Overview of 2025 for Indian Cricket

The year 2025 has been a tumultuous journey for cricket enthusiasts in India. While the Indian team celebrated victories in white-ball formats, their Test performances were inconsistent. The sentiments of joy, disappointment, and frustration defined the year, encapsulated by three key themes: Trophies, Transition, and Heartbreak.

Trophies

The year began with the Test team struggling in Australia, heavily relying on Jasprit Bumrah, who faced immense pressure. The series was marked by disappointing performances from star players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, leading to India's first loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a decade. Kohli managed only 190 runs, while Rohit scored a mere 31 runs across five innings, resulting in a significant drop in their form.

However, the team rebounded in limited-overs cricket, winning the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. Key contributions came from Shubman Gill, who scored a century against Bangladesh, and Virat Kohli, who also hit a hundred against Pakistan. The tournament saw India reclaim their status, with standout performances from players like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who excelled in crucial matches.

Transition

The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy raised questions about the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, both of whom struggled with form. Their domestic outings were disappointing, leading to their exit from the team just before the ICC World Test Championship series against England. Shubman Gill emerged as the new captain, leading a fresh squad that included Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.

Despite the absence of their star players, India managed to draw the Test series against England 2-2, with Gill achieving remarkable success, scoring 754 runs at an average of 75.40.

Heartbreak

Following a successful series against the West Indies, expectations were high for the Indian team. However, they faced a crushing defeat against South Africa, losing both matches in a whitewash. The team struggled to adapt, leading to questions about their preparation and technique. The loss at Eden Gardens, where they were bowled out for just 93 runs, marked a significant low point.

The year concluded with a mixed performance across formats, highlighting both the potential and challenges facing Indian cricket.

2025 Performance Summary

Format-by-Format Breakdown

*Team India in 2025:

• Tests: Played: 10, Won: 4, Lost: 5, Drawn: 1


• ODIs: Played: 14, Won: 11, Lost: 3


• T20Is: Played: 21, Won: 16, Lost: 3, Tied: 1, No-Result: 1

Top Performers

*Top performers:

• Shubman Gill: 1,764 runs in 35 matches at an average of 49.00


• KL Rahul: 1,180 runs in 24 matches at an average of 47.20


• Yashasvi Jaiswal: 916 runs in 14 matches at an average of 41.63


• Kuldeep Yadav: 60 wickets in 25 matches at an average of 20.48


• Varun Chakravarthy: 46 wickets in 24 matches at an average of 14.45


• Jasprit Bumrah: 45 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 21.77