Bengaluru: Cricket Australia has announced its Best Test XI of the Year 2025, with three Indian cricketers — Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah — earning spots in the prestigious line-up. The selection recognises consistent performances across the calendar year and highlights India’s strong presence in the longest format of the game.

The Australian board revealed that while India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was in close contention, he narrowly missed out on selection, with England’s Ben Stokes being preferred in the all-rounder’s slot due to his overall impact during crucial Test matches.

Strong Indian representation

Shubman Gill’s inclusion comes on the back of a breakthrough year in Test cricket. Gill amassed 983 runs in 16 innings in 2025, underlining his growing stature as one of the premier batters in world cricket. His year was further elevated by his leadership during the England Test series, where he captained India to a creditable 2-2 draw after Rohit Sharma retired from the format.

Gill’s performance in England stood out as one of the finest Test series by an Indian batter overseas. He scored a staggering 754 runs in five matches at an average of 75.40, including four centuries and a career-best 269. His dominance against a quality bowling attack reinforced his reputation as the “Prince” of Indian cricket and a potential long-term leader of the Test side.

KL Rahul also found a place in the XI after a productive year at the top of the order. Rahul scored 813 runs in 19 innings, providing stability and experience in challenging conditions. Cricket Australia noted his adaptability and ability to anchor innings across different continents as key factors behind his selection.

Bumrah leads the bowling attack

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was a unanimous choice among the selectors. The fast bowler claimed 31 wickets in 14 innings during the year, consistently delivering match-winning spells. His accuracy, ability to extract movement on all surfaces and effectiveness in both home and away conditions made him one of the standout bowlers of 2025.

Bumrah’s inclusion ensures India has a strong presence in the bowling department of the XI, alongside Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, and South Africa’s Simon Harmer.

Jadeja misses out narrowly

Cricket Australia explained that Ravindra Jadeja narrowly missed selection despite another solid year with both bat and ball. The panel ultimately opted for Ben Stokes, citing the England captain’s match-defining performances and leadership qualities. Stokes’ ability to influence games in pressure situations gave him the edge in a tightly contested selection.

Bavuma named captain

For the captaincy role, Cricket Australia selected South Africa’s Temba Bavuma. The decision was based on his leadership achievements rather than purely statistical dominance. Under Bavuma’s captaincy, South Africa enjoyed a memorable year, winning the ICC World Test Championship mace and securing a 2-0 Test series sweep over India.

Bavuma scored 714 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.62, with one century and six half-centuries in 17 innings. While the numbers may not appear extraordinary, selectors highlighted his ability to perform in crucial moments and guide his team through challenging situations.

Balanced global XI

The remainder of the XI features a balanced mix of proven performers from leading Test nations. Australia’s Travis Head and Alex Carey were selected for their aggressive batting and wicketkeeping skills respectively, while England’s Joe Root was an automatic choice after another consistent year in Test cricket.

Conclusion

Cricket Australia’s Best Test XI of 2025 reflects a year dominated by strong leadership, consistency and match-winning performances. With three Indians included, the selection underscores India’s continued influence in Test cricket and highlights Shubman Gill’s emergence as a global star and leader in the format.

Cricket Australia’s Best Test XI of 2025:
KL Rahul (India), Travis Head (Australia), Joe Root (England), Shubman Gill (India), Temba Bavuma (South Africa, captain), Alex Carey (Australia, wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (England), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Scott Boland (Australia), Simon Harmer (South Africa).