Test cricket in 2025 served up drama, technique and some of the finest individual seasons the game has seen. From new roles being nailed down to fast-bowling attacks dominating across conditions, the year produced a deep pool of talent. Picking just eleven players was never going to be easy, but this XI recognises the men who shaped the year — match-winners, workhorses and leaders who made Test cricket compelling.
CricketGully’s Men’s Test Team of the Year (2025)
- KL Rahul (India) — Opening batter • 4,053 Test runs @ 35.86, SR 51.89, 11 centuries, 20 fifties
- Travis Head (Australia) — Opening batter • 4,400 Test runs @ 42.71, SR 69.01, HS 175, 20 fifties
- Joe Root (England) — No. 3 • 13,777 Test runs @ 50.83, 262 centuries, 66 fifties
- Shubman Gill (India) — Middle-order batter • 2,843 Test runs @ 43.07, SR 61.49, 10 centuries
- Temba Bavuma (c) (South Africa) — Middle-order batter & captain • 3,810 Test runs @ 38.10, 4 centuries, 26 fifties
- Rishabh Pant (wk) (India) — Wicketkeeper-batter • 3,476 Test runs @ 42.91, SR 74.24, 8 centuries
- Ravindra Jadeja (India) — All-rounder • 4,095 runs @ 38.27, 348 wickets @ 25.11
- Jasprit Bumrah (India) — Fast bowler • 234 wickets @ 19.79, Econ 2.77, SR 42.8
- Mitchell Starc (Australia) — Fast bowler • 428 wickets @ 26.43, SR 46.1, 20 five-fors
- Marco Jansen (South Africa) — Fast bowler • 89 wickets @ 21.12, SR 38.2, 624 Test runs
- Mohammed Siraj (India) — Fast bowler • 139 wickets @ 29.66, SR 50.4, 8 five-fors
- 12th player: Ravichandran Ashwin (India) — Spin bowler • 537 wickets @ 24.00, 3,503 runs @ 25.75
Why this XI works
The side mixes solidity and aggression at the top, one of the most reliable middle-orders in world cricket, a live wicketkeeper-batter and a varied pace attack supported by a world-class spinning option. Together they cover all surfaces: pace, bounce, swing, seam and top-quality left-arm spin and off-spin. Leadership and depth make this team realistic in most match situations.
Openers: KL Rahul and Travis Head
KL Rahul’s reinvention as a Test opener has been one of the stories of recent years. He has added time and concentration to his natural timing, turning starts into big scores and giving India steady starts with eleven centuries to his name. His strike-rate shows a measured approach that suits long innings.
Travis Head is the other half of the perfect contrast — the aggressive left-hander who can flip the game in a session. His 4,400 Test runs and striking tempo make him a nightmare for new-ball bowlers and a perfect foil for Rahul’s patience. Together they offer both ballast and momentum up front.
No. 3: Joe Root
Joe Root remains one of the most complete Test batters of this generation. His conversion rate from fifty to hundred and his ability to score across formats and conditions keep him at the centre of any discussion about the modern greats. Root brings calm, class and a huge run-scoring engine to No. 3.
Middle-order: Shubman Gill and Temba Bavuma (captain)
Shubman Gill has announced himself as a long-term fixture with elegant strokeplay and growing scores, including big double hundreds. He balances modern intent with textbook technique and has a temperament built for long innings.
Temba Bavuma slots in at No. 5 and leads the side. His numbers underline dependability under pressure and his captaincy has revived South Africa’s Test fortunes. Bavuma’s approach is measured and strategic — exactly what you want from a middle-order batter who also marshals the team.
Wicketkeeper-batter: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant is the X-factor. He offers match-winning acceleration with the bat and has developed into a reliable keeper. Pant’s ability to take bowlers on late in the innings shifts pressure back onto opponents and his positive intent often changes the course of a Test.
All-rounder: Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja’s value is enormous: a left-arm spinner who consistently takes wickets and a batter who can rebuild or accelerate. His fielding is among the best in the game. Jadeja adds balance, turning matches with long spells and also contributing valuable runs in the lower middle order.
Pace battery: Bumrah, Starc, Jansen, Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah is the spearhead — accuracy, late movement and an exceptional knack for breakthroughs make him one of the most complete fast bowlers in Tests today. Mitchell Starc brings raw pace and lethal swing from the left arm, capable of ripping through top orders. Marco Jansen’s height and bounce provide a different kind of threat; he already looks like a long-term strike weapon. Mohammed Siraj fills the final seamer slot with relentless discipline, clever seam movement and the ability to succeed across conditions. This quartet covers every fast-bowling angle an opposition could face.
12th man: Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin’s record speaks for itself. Even as a reserve option, his off-spin, tactical nous and useful batting make him a match-winner in the right conditions. He is also the kind of senior voice whose cricketing brain lifts a dressing room when plans need to be refined.
Conclusion
This Test XI reflects the best of 2025: players who combined high skill with consistent impact. The batting depth, the dynamic wicketkeeping, the all-round value of Jadeja and a fearsome, varied pace attack would make this side competitive in any Test. More than that, these selections celebrate the players who reminded fans why Test cricket remains the ultimate format for measuring technique, temperament and resilience.