Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund recently named the best Test XI for the calendar year of 2025, and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant could not find a place in the XI. The list, however, comprised 5 Indian cricketers in the XI.
2025 has come to an end, and the Test matches are all over, with Australia and England currently playing in the Ashes. Many players have performed consistently well, and players from the top four sides, Australia, England, South Africa and India, have been picked in the XI.
Former Indian player Abhinav Mukund recently made an appearance on a Star Sports show, and during the conversation, he named a bunch of cricketers from around the world.
Abhinav Mukund dismisses Rishabh Pant from the Best Test XI
Abhinav Mukund made some interesting choices while picking his Best possible playing XI, comprising 11 of the finest players from every corner of the globe. The team looks very promising with the number of picked players, but has lacked some major names as well.
The Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant featured for India in both the England and the South Africa series. He could not feature in the series against the West Indies due to the foot fracture suffered during the England tour.
Rishabh Pant played in 13 innings and managed to score 629 runs for India at an average of 48.38 with two centuries and three half-centuries in the year. Despite all, he was not picked in the Best Test XI by Abhinav Mukund, who sided with Australia’s Alex Carey as the gloveman in the team.
Five Indian players named in the Playing XI
The former Indian cricketer started with Indian opener KL Rahul and English opener Ben Duckett as the openers on his side. KL Rahul has been a very consistent performer for the Indian side, while Duckett, too, had another fulfilling year in the longest format of the game.
A total of 5 Indian players were named in the Playing XI. Alongside KL Rahul, Indian skipper Shubman Gill was also named in the squad after having scored the most runs in the 2025 calendar year with the bat.
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were the two pacers to be named in the XI. Siraj was named at the back of his strong performance in England, and Jasprit Bumrah emerged as one of the highest wicket-taking bowlers in red-ball cricket for India.
WTC-winning skipper named the captain of the side
The 2025 WTC winning skipper, Temba Bavuma, was named in the playing XI at no. 3 and has also been tagged as the skipper of the side. He has been named alongside Simon Harmer, the other South African in the side. He finished with 30 wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja, the veteran Indian all-rounder, is the only all-rounder in the playing XI. He impressed with 764 runs and also picked 25 wickets in just 10 matches. Mitchell Starc was also named after he finished the year as one of the highest wicket-takers in red-ball cricket in 2025.
Abhinav Mukund’s Best Test XI of 2025: KL Rahul, Ben Duckett, Temba Bavuma (c), Joe Root, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey (wk), Simon Harmer, Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah.
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