As 2025 approaches, former Indian cricketer and commentator Abhinav Mukund has revealed its ‘Best Test XI’ for the year. Mukund’s selection highlights players who have excelled in major series such as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and the ongoing Ashes, while making the South African captain a bold choice. Temba Bavuma Leading the side.
Abhinav Mukund’s Test XI of 2025
stylish top order
Mukund opted for right-left opening combination while forming India’s pair. KL Rahul with England ben duckettRahul was the top Test run-scorer among the openers and the Champions Trophy winner, while Duckett made significant contributions with big centuries in both the Test and ODI formats, Rahul has had a stellar year across all formats, most notably becoming the highest run-scoring opening batsman in Test cricket in 2025, with 625 runs till October, He also played an important role in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title win,
Duckett was a key player for England in all formats. He set the record for the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history by scoring 165 against Australia in February 2025, which was later broken. In the Test series against India, he scored a brilliant 149 in the first Test win at Headingley.
At number three, Mukund named his captain Bavuma. Bavuma had an extraordinary year as both a batsman and captain, which most notably included leading South Africa to a historic victory in the 2025 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia. As a batsman, he maintained an excellent Test average of 60.50 during the year and played crucial innings in South Africa’s first Test series win in India in 25 years.
middle order dominance
The middle order includes the most consistent run scorers of the year. of England Joe Root, from india Shubman Gill and australia’s Alex Carey. The Indian star finished the year as the highest international run-scorer across all formats, while Root finished as the top ODI run-scorer and second-highest Test run-scorer.
Gill scored 1,764 runs in 35 international matches in 2025 at an average of 49.00, including seven centuries and three half-centuries. He performed brilliantly in the Test series against England and scored 754 runs with four centuries, including a highest score of 269, for which he was jointly named Player of the Series. Despite his red-ball and 50-over success, he was dropped from the T20I squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup due to poor T20I form.
Root ended the year as the leading ODI run-scorer with 808 runs at an average of 57.71. In Test cricket, he became the second-highest run-scorer of all time, surpassing Ricky Ponting. Root scored 1,598 international runs across all formats in 2025 at an average of 57.07.
Carey enjoyed a “red-hot” year in Test cricket, finishing as Australia’s highest run-scorer in this format with an average of 51.61. He scored two Test centuries, including his first Ashes century on his home ground in Adelaide. His work behind the stumps, particularly in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, earned him widespread praise, with some describing him as the world’s best wicketkeeper.
dynamic bowling attack
Australia is leading the bowling attack Mitchell StarcWho registered his name in the record book in 2025. Starc became the first bowler since 1993 to take more than 50 wickets in a year with a strike rate under 30 (28.7). The spin department is led continuously Ravindra JadejaWho served as the leading all-rounder of the team and South Africa simon harmerWhose 30 wickets in just four Tests made him an undisputed selection for Mukund. India has completed the pace battery Mohammad Siraj And Jasprit BumrahWho took around 80 wickets during the calendar year.
Abhinav Mukund’s best Test playing XI for 2025: KL Rahul, Ben Duckett, Temba Bavuma (c), Joe Root, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey (wk), Simon Harmer, Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
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