Year-ender: Highs and heartbreaks of Team India in 2025
What's the story
The Indian men's cricket team underwent a transition phase in 2025. After failing to reach the 2025 ICC World Test Championship final, India started afresh with a young captain in Shubman Gill. Gill was appointed India's Test captain after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli unexpectedly retired from the format. While India had mixed results in Tests, the white-ball sides scaled new heights.
Champions Trophy
India win 2025 Champions Trophy unbeaten
In March, India became the first side to win the Champions Trophy thrice. The Rohit-led Team India tamed New Zealand in a one-sided 2025 final in Dubai. The Men in Blue lifted the cup unbeaten. They had reached their third successive final in the tournament. With this, India claimed their seventh ICC title, the second-most for a side.
England
Victory for the ages at The Oval
After the Indian Premier League (IPL) concluded, India embarked on their England Test tour under Gill. In a hard-fought Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India managed a 2-2 draw after winning the final Test. After bowling 1,000-plus deliveries across five Tests, Mohammed Siraj took the series-leveling victory at The Oval. His 143kph yorker helped India steal a six-run win, with England failing to chase down 374.
Asia Cup
India's ninth Asia Cup title
India next traveled to the UAE in September for the T20 Asia Cup. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side remained unbeaten, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan thrice, including the final. Abhishek Sharma was instrumental throughout the campaign. In the final, Tilak Varma played a crucial role with his steady knock of 69* off 53 balls. India secured their ninth Asia Cup title (ODIs and T20Is combined).
Comeback
Comebacks of Rohit, Kohli in international cricket
India visited Australia for a three-match ODI series in October. There were questions over the spots of Rohit and Kohli, who hadn't played in a while. They announced their Test retirements in May. Although India lost 1-2 to Australia, Rohit was adjudged the Player of the Series. Kohli, who recorded two back-to-back ducks, scored a half-century in the final ODI.
SA series
India lose to South Africa at home
After beating West Indies, India lost the Kolkata Test to South Africa by 30 runs. India failed to chase down 124, the second-lowest for them in the format. South Africa routed India 2-0 after winning in Guwahati. The Proteas successfully defended 548, bowling India out for 140 on the final day. SA won their first Test series in India since 2000.
Information
New low for India's Test side
In Guwahati, India suffered their biggest Test defeat (408 runs), surpassing 342 runs against Australia in 2004. India have now suffered two series sweeps at home in successive years (also in 2024 to New Zealand).
ODIs
India prevail in ODI, T20I legs
India bounced back in the ODI leg against SA. The series, which India won 2-1, saw Kohli regain his Midas touch. He was adjudged the Player of the Series after recording three back-to-back 50-plus scores against South Africa, including two tons. Thereafter, India beat South Africa 3-1 in the five-match T20I series. This was India's eighth successive bilateral T20I series win.