Highlights of Indian Cricket in 2025: Triumphs and Challenges
Overview of Indian Cricket in 2025
In 2025, Indian cricket witnessed significant achievements and faced some challenges across both men's and women's teams. Notably, the women's team, under Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership, clinched their first ODI World Cup on home soil, while the men's team, led by Rohit Sharma, secured the Champions Trophy. However, the men's squad suffered a 0-2 defeat in a Test series against South Africa and missed a golden opportunity to win a Test series in England. Fans also had to cope with the retirement rumors surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket. Despite this, the superstar duo excelled in the ODI format, earning Player of the Series awards against Australia and South Africa, respectively.
Champions Trophy Victory
The pinnacle moment for India in 2025 came with their Champions Trophy victory in Dubai, reaffirming their dominance in white-ball cricket. The team showcased balance, depth, and resilience, highlighted by stellar performances from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and emerging talents. In the final, India chased down New Zealand's target of 252 runs, winning by four wickets with six balls to spare. Rohit Sharma's composed innings of 76 was pivotal in this chase, earning him the Man of the Match award. This victory silenced critics and added another ICC trophy to India's accolades.
Asia Cup: Joys and Controversies
The Asia Cup brought a mix of joy and turmoil. India dominated the tournament, defeating Pakistan three times, including in the final. However, chaos erupted during the trophy presentation ceremony when Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan's Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, leading to a controversial withholding of the trophy by the PCB chairman. Timing disputes and heated exchanges among officials added to the drama, making the Asia Cup one of the most talked-about events of the year, despite the off-field controversies overshadowing India's undeniable cricketing talent.
RCB: Trophy Win and Tragedy
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally ended their trophy drought by winning the IPL in spectacular fashion. After years of anticipation, Kohli finally lifted the trophy, and the celebrations were filled with joy as RCB was declared the best team of the season. However, tragedy struck the day after the final when several RCB fans lost their lives during a victory parade. From ICC triumphs to Test match defeats, changes in captaincy, and off-field controversies, 2025 encapsulated every aspect of Indian cricket.
Dominance of the Women's Team
The Indian women's team focused on ODI matches in 2025, aiming for World Cup glory. Despite facing challenges during the tournament, they triumphed on home soil under Harmanpreet Kaur's exceptional leadership. The year concluded with a remarkable 5-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the shortest format of the game. Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup in 2026, the team hopes to replicate their ODI World Cup success.
India Wins Blind Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup
Just days after the senior women's team celebrated their World Cup victory, India claimed the title in the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup held in Colombo, defeating Nepal in the final.