The year 2025 witnessed a magnificent landscape of the longest, toughest, and ultimate format of our beautiful game. Test cricket outshone the other two formats of the sport comprehensively. This assertion gains its push courtesy of some marvelous red ball international series over the past year. Add to it a new World Test Champion (WTC) in South Africa, the spectacular Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, India's historic low at home, an ongoing dramatic Ashes series Down Under, etc., and the format really got a lift. 

The ingredients, like intense and intriguing battles, pitch fights, the equality between batters and bowlers, the transition between different styles of play (traditional to modern), and impeccable individual performances, all unpredictably yet perfectly confluenced to boost the health of the format. Viewers were treated to premium Test Cricket across regions, and this formed the basis for their substantial and prolonged interest in players donning the whites. 

The 'Best Test Cricket Eleven of 2025' features some of the most talented and deft players across the international circuit. They cut others due to their stellar cricketing displays, individually and also while effectively contributing towards the success of their respective nations. Their work ethics and efficiency were unmatched over the entire year, and they bore the right blend of values to progress in the game. They charted themselves with intent and achieved great recognition. 

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A detailed look at the players who make up the playing XI as a Test unit for 2025. Their presence and position have been backed by their cumulative statistics during the same phase. 

The Best Test Cricket XI of 2025  

KL Rahul, Travis Head, Shubman Gill, Joe Root, Temba Bavuma (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Alex Carey (WK), Marco Jansen, Mitchell Starc, Simon Harmer, and Mohammad Siraj. 

KL Rahul

KL Rahul takes the first opener spot in the best Test XI of 2025. The period saw Rahul amass his best-ever tally of runs in a single calendar year. The Indian right-handed batter was pivotal in his side's success during the English summer. India drew that series two-all. His solid mettle and seniority acted as a backbone for the younger batters transitioning into the squad. He struck a couple of tons in England and another one in India. He also became the flagbearer for disciplined and meticulous test batting. 

Travis Head

Australia's Travis Head accompanies KL Rahul in the middle. The explosive batter played only half of his innings as an opener in 2025, but his impact was indelible. The southpaw hit swashbuckling hundreds at Perth and Adelaide during the Ashes 2025-26 series and turned the tables as usual. His strike rate (90-plus) was breathtaking, and his presence didn't let the opposition gain any fortunes. 

Shubman Gill

2025 saw Shubman Gill being handed over India's Test Cricket reins post the retirement of a couple of senior players. Traversing uncertainties and doubts, the elegant player made headlines for his outstanding performances both as the captain and with the bat. He had a stellar England tour in the middle of the year, was the top run scorer of both sides (754), had his career-best score of 269 runs become the highest figure by an Indian skipper overseas, and bagged the man of the series award. 

His injury-induced absence in the home rubber against South Africa hurt India immensely. The latter slumped to their lowest in the format, giving up the series 0-2. Nonetheless, Shubman finished the year as the leading run-getter and with a sizeable margin. 

Joe Root

The sensational Joe Root has made quite a habit of featuring in every Test team. The Englishman averaged over 50 during the year. He hit three centuries against India in the British summer and recently ended his drought of a ton in Australia. He managed to score his first-ever hundred Down Under, at Brisbane, in the ongoing Ashes Series. The Yorkshire player has perennially been synonymous with consistency. 

Temba Bavuma (Captain)

Under Temba Bavuma, the Proteas have almost become unbeatable regardless of the conditions and opponents. As their leader, in 2025, South Africa won all four matches. With the bat in his hands, he averaged over fifty. Winning the WTC final against the mighty Aussies was quite remarkable, a humongous highlight, a testament to Temba and the rainbow nation's success in Test Cricket. 

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja, the batter, had a memorable year. He averaged over sixty, made six fifties and two centuries. This, by far, became the best year for him in terms of batting returns. 

In bowling, the form was not so great. However, 2025 brought the special moment when he completed the rare double of garnering 4000 runs and 300 wickets in his Test Cricket career. 

Alex Carey (Wicket-Keeper)

Alex Carey, Australia's man behind the stumps, had an exceptional year. His potent batting returns and the work with the tailenders proved invaluable on the majority of occasions. He smashed two tons, one in Sri Lanka and the other at his home ground in Adelaide during the Ashes 2025-26 series. 

Behind the poles, he was a force to reckon with. His skillful wicket-keeping display was entirely evident throughout the year. Against England, he became a beast of a proposition, as his glove work was equivalent to perfection. Technically sound in every way. 

Marco Jansen

Talk about pacers, and it begins with Marco Jansen. He had an all-round year like no other. The Proteas' all-weather player played an instrumental role with the bat. The tall man offered some very useful and match-defining contributions late in the innings to swing the tide towards his side. His strike rate was, at times, alarming for the opposition. 

With the ball, he took a six-fer in India and won the man of the match award in the second game of that series. His performances well and truly stood out. 

Mitchell Starc

The tall and lanky Aussie quick was a class apart. Known mainly for his fiery and hostile pace bowling, he also struck three fifties with the bat to add to his repertoire. 

He was at his lethal best with the red Kookaburra in his hands. Inevitably, he became England's nemesis in the Ashes 2025-26 and blew their top order off on quite a few instances. In 2025, scalping 55 wickets, no other bowler had a better strike rate than him. 

Simon Harmer

The standout and specialist spinner of 2025 made giant strides for South Africa. He victimized several batters with his incisive spin bowling. The veteran and a former Essex player used all his experience to disguise India with his guile, outshining their batters to win the man of the series trophy. He was the Proteas' leading wicket-taker and the anchor behind their success in the subcontinent. 

Mohammad Siraj

The inexorable lion-hearted Indian pacer ran relentlessly with the ball and never gave up. His fitness levels were extraordinary and enabled him to feature in the maximum number of games. With him around, there was always some spice in the pitch. His positivity rubbed off on other teammates as well. He was the man of the moment when India trumped England, by the barest of distances, in that historic Oval Test match.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are the players included in the Best Test Cricket XI of 2025?

The Best Test XI of 2025 features standout performers from across the year — players who consistently delivered match-winning performances in the longest format.

2. How is the Best Test XI of 2025 selected?

The selection is based on overall performance, consistency, impact in key matches, and contribution to team success during the 2025 season.

3. Which country contributed the most players to the 2025 Test XI?

Teams like India, Australia, and England dominated the list, with several of their top-order batters and frontline bowlers making the cut.

4. Who narrowly missed out on the Best Test XI of 2025?

Some iconic players like Aiden Markram (South Africa), Ben Stokes (England), and Jasprit Bumrah (India), had strong individual seasons but narrowly missed the selection due to inconsistencies, form dips, injuries, or limited match appearances.

5. Why is 2025 considered a remarkable year for Test cricket?

2025 saw several thrilling series, record-breaking performances, and rising stars making their mark — reaffirming Test cricket’s timeless appeal.

6. What can we expect from Test cricket in 2026?

The year promises intense rivalries, packed schedules, and new talents emerging as teams prepare for major Test tours and the World Test Championship final in 2027.