Team India enjoyed a strong year in ODIs in 2025. The Men in Blue played 14 matches, winning 11 and losing only three. They finished the year with an impressive win percentage of 78.57.

India began 2025 with a 3–0 ODI series win over England at home. They then remained unbeaten in the Champions Trophy held in the UAE. Later in the year, Team India lost the ODI series in Australia by 2–1. However, they ended the year on a positive note with a 2–1 home series win against South Africa.

Among the bowlers, young pacer Harshit Rana emerged as India’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs in 2025. In 11 matches, he took 20 wickets at an average of 25.55. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav finished second on the list, claiming 19 wickets in 11 games at an average of 29.

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Ravindra Jadeja took 12 wickets, while Mohammad Shami and Axar Patel picked up 11 wickets each to complete the top five list.

Indian bowlers delivered several match-winning performances in ODIs during 2025. In this feature, we take a look at the top five ODI bowling performances by Team India in the year.

1. Mohammad Shami (5-53) vs Bangladesh, Dubai

Veteran pacer Mohammad Shami played seven ODIs for Team India in 2025. He picked up 11 wickets at an average of 30.63 and an economy rate of 5.92. Nine of his wickets came in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.

Shami delivered an excellent spell of 5-53 from 10 overs against Bangladesh in the group-stage match. Bangladesh batted first after winning the toss, but Shami’s five-wicket haul restricted them to 228 runs.

He dismissed Soumya Sarkar in the first over, caught behind. He then removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5) at slip with a fine outswinger. Shami also picked up the wickets of Jaker Ali (68), Tanzim Hasan Sakib (0), and Taskin Ahmed (3). India chased the target comfortably, with Shubman Gill scoring an unbeaten 101 off 129 balls.

2. Prasidh Krishna (4-66) vs South Africa, Visakhapatnam

Team India pacer Prasidh Krishna had a challenging ODI season in 2025, especially in terms of economy rate. The right-arm fast bowler took eight wickets in four matches at an average of 31.37 and an economy rate of 7.72.

Prasidh’s best performance came in the deciding ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, where he returned figures of 4-66. Although he conceded runs, he picked up key wickets.

India bowled first, and Prasidh trapped Matthew Breetzke (24) lbw. He then forced Aiden Markram (1) into a false shot before dismissing Quinton de Kock, who scored 106. South Africa were restricted to 270, which India chased down in 39.5 overs.

3. Harshit Rana (4-39) vs Australia, Sydney

Young pacer Harshit Rana faced criticism for inconsistent performances across formats. However, finishing 2025 as India’s leading ODI wicket-taker highlighted his impact.

Harshit starred with figures of 4-39 against Australia in Sydney, helping India avoid a 3-0 series whitewash. Australia opted to bat first, and Harshit struck early by dismissing Alex Carey (24), with a brilliant catch by Shreyas Iyer.

He then removed Mitchell Owen (1) at slip and later dismissed Cooper Connolly (23) and Josh Hazlewood (0). Australia were bowled out for 236, and India chased the target in 38.3 overs.

4. Kuldeep Yadav (3-40) vs Pakistan, Dubai

Kuldeep Yadav delivered several strong spells in ODIs in 2025. While he had four-wicket hauls against South Africa earlier in the year, his best effort came against Pakistan in Dubai during the Champions Trophy.

Kuldeep returned figures of 3-40 from nine overs. He dismissed Salman Agha (19), trapped Shaheen Shah Afridi lbw on the first ball, and removed Naseem Shah (14). Pakistan were restricted to 241 after looking set for a bigger total. India chased the target easily, led by a century from Virat Kohli.

5. Varun Chakaravarthy (5-42) vs New Zealand, Dubai

Varun Chakaravarthy impressed in limited ODI appearances in 2025. In four matches, he took 10 wickets at an average of 19 and an economy rate of 4.75.

His best performance came against New Zealand in Dubai, where he claimed 5-42. Chasing 250, New Zealand were bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs.

Chakaravarthy dismissed Will Young (22) with a googly, trapped Glenn Phillips (12) lbw, removed Michael Bracewell (2), and then picked up Mitchell Santner (28) and Matt Henry (2) to complete a match-winning spell.

Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist spinner of the Indian cricket team, has been a massive fan of football, as he shares various videos of his favorite games on his Instagram stories. He has a keen interest in football and is a fan of the La Liga Club, FC Barcelona, for which the global footballer, Lionel Messi, used to play.

However, Lionel Messi remains no longer part of the club as he left it in August 2021 due to the financial issues and decided to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), playing for them until 2023 before moving to Inter Miami, as he spent the lion’s share of his legendary career of 21 years at Barcelona, becoming their all-time top scorer and winning several titles.

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In a video that has gone viral on social media platforms, Kuldeep Yadav was seen interacting with Messi during a photoshoot for Adidas. Some other footballers were also present in the group as the fans enjoyed the moment. It was also a special moment for the spinner of the Blue Brigade.

Kuldeep Yadav meets Lionel Messi in ADIDAS photo shoot

Kuldeep Yadav has been in fine touch in the shortest format for the Indian side, with the help of 90 wickets in 48 innings at an average of 13.17 and a strike rate of 11.5, with the help of three four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 5/17 in an innings.

Watch the video here: 

Adidas really said "legends" Only 🐐
Kuldeep 🤝🏻 Messi pic.twitter.com/0YeMGOJH4T

— Rishabh (@iomrishabh) December 17, 2025

When it comes to the overall shortest format, Kuldeep has recorded 236 wickets in 180 innings at an average of 20.53 and a strike rate of 16.5 with the help of three fifers and eight four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 5/17 in an innings. He will be a vital player for the national side in the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

In the ongoing five-match T20I series at home against South Africa, Kuldeep featured in the third clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala, where they ended with figures of 2/12 as India took the lead by a 2-1 margin before the fourth game was abandoned due to dense fog.

Watch the video here:

Lionel Messi in Team India Jersey, Gifted by Mr Jay Shah. Wow. pic.twitter.com/12ztIFQNoc

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) December 18, 2025

The no.1-ranked T20I bowler, Indian leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy, produced another brilliant bowling performance during the Dharamsala T20I against South Africa. In that match, he completed his 50th T20I wicket, as he became one of the fastest Indian bowlers to complete 50 T20I wickets. 

While South Africa were bundled out for only 117 runs in 20 overs in the third T20I of the five-match series after losing the toss, Varun Chakravarthy was the best Indian bowler with the bowling figures of 4-0-11-2, as he delivered 14 dots and didn't concede a single boundary in the game. 

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Varun Chakravarthy became second fastest Indian to complete 50 T20I wickets

In the match, Varun took the wickets of two dangerous Proteas batters, Donovan Ferreira (20) and Marco Jansen (2), as both were bowled. None of the South African batters had any clue how to handle Varun at Dharamsala. 

Varun's first victim of the match was Donovan Ferreira, who recently got lucky, as Arshdeep Singh dropped him at long on in the 13th over. However, in the next over, Varun bowled Donovan, as the Proteas batter went for a big shot, but the Indian spinner comfortably beat him with the ball. It was Varun's 50th T20I wicket, as he completed it in his 32nd T20I. 

Varun became the second fastest Indian to complete 50 T20I wickets. The left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav holds the record for the fastest Indian to complete 50 T20I wickets, as he achieved it in 30 innings. 

Among the Indian pacers, Arshdeep Singh holds the record for the fastest 50 T20I wickets, as the left-arm pacer completed it in 33 innings. 

Among the top five fastest Indian bowlers to complete 50 T20I wickets, the other two names are also spinners, as Ravi Bishnoi and Yuzvendra Chahal completed this feat in 33 and 34 T20I innings, respectively. 

Fastest 50 T20I wickets by Indians (number of innings)

India faced a massive defeat of over 50 runs against South Africa during the second T20I of the five-match series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Their performance with the ball and bat was not up to the mark as the Protea side bounced back incredibly to square off the series at 1-1.

The cold weather of Chandigarh was not easy for the players and the fans. But there was a funny interaction between the wicket-keeper batter of the side, Sanju Samson, and the left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, who were not playing the clash and were standing outside the boundary rope. The video of their interaction went viral on social media.

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There was a point when Kuldeep, dressed in his cap and putting a towel on his face, came to put his frozen hands on Samson’s cheek. The latter held the spinner on his shoulder and brought him closer. The fans kept making loud noise as the funny situation flew around the social platforms.

Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav’s funny reaction to New Chandigarh’s cold weather 

Samson, who has smashed 185 runs in 10 innings of the T20Is this year, was dropped from the eleven after getting a couple of chances in the previous five-match T20I series against Australia down under. The management has given Shubman Gill a long rope at the opening spot, but the Punjab-born hasn’t shown any promising signs either.

Watch the video here: 

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A post shared by Sandeep Singh (@sportstalkcricket_)

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav, who picked up 19 wickets in nine T20I innings in 2025 at an average of just around 11 and an economy rate of seven with the best figures of 4/7, has also not been picked in the eleven. Varun Chakravarthy could partner with Kuldeep to hamper the middle-order batting of the opposition.

India collected a massive victory by over 100 runs in the opening clash at Cuttack, but let themselves down in Chandigarh. They will have a chance to take a lead in the third encounter at the Himachal Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.

The left-arm wrist spinner of the Indian cricket team, Kuldeep Yadav, was excellent with the ball during the middle overs of the third ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at home at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. He used his spin variations beautifully to fox the batters of the Rainbow Nation to create pressure on them.

Kuldeep’s first wicket of the innings was Dewald Brevis, who swung hard to the batter as it drifted away from the reach of the batter and took the top edge to end in the hands of the mid-wicket fielder, Rohit Sharma. Two balls later, Marco Jansen’s miscued slog ended in the hands of a deep mid-wicket fielder’s throat as the Proteas lost their plot in the middle overs.

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“Nothing much from my side. The coach has already told everything. Congrats to Jaisu and Virat bhai. They played some unbelievable innings today. And yeah, that’s it.” Kuldeep expressed in a video posted on Instagram as the spinner ended up with figures of 4/41 in 10 overs.

Watch: Kuldeep Yadav gets ‘Impact Player of series’ for India’s 2-1 ODI series win vs South Africa

The Proteas didn’t enjoy a great start with the bat, having lost their left-handed opening batter, Ryan Rickelton, in the very first over. Quinton de Kock, however, recovered them with a fine knock of 106 runs in 89 balls at a strike rate of 119.10, while Temba Bavuma smashed 48 runs.

Watch the video here:  

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The visiting side lost their road when Kuldeep came into the middle overs along with Prasidh Krishna, who ended with fine figures of 4/66 in 9.5 overs as the South Africa side got bundled out for 270 runs in the first innings.

India got a strong platform with the 155-run opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma. The latter smashed 75 runs in 73 balls at a strike rate of 102.74 with seven boundaries and three sixes. Jaiswal clubbed an unbeaten 116 runs in 121 balls, scoring on 12 boundaries and three sixes. Virat Kohli scored an undefeated 65 runs in 46 balls for their nine-wicket win.

India’s left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, was in exceptional form during the third ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. However, like most bowlers, he has never been a good member of taking the decision review systems, and that was shown during the first innings.

It was the fourth delivery of the 43rd over when the spinner asked for a DRS to captain, KL Rahul, while Rohit Sharma sent back the bowler from the slip region as Virat Kohli shared a smile standing at the cover region. Meanwhile, on the very next delivery, Kuldeep trapped Lungi Ngidi on the pads and asked for another review.

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Rohit had the same reaction as Rahul, who quite peacefully raced away to the other end of the wicket at the end. The Uttar Pradesh spinner ended with a fine figure of 4/41 in 10 overs of the innings, including a maiden at an economy rate of 4.10. Against the Proteas, he has bagged 36 ODI wickets in 16 innings at an average of under 18.

Watch: Rohit Sharma gives funny reaction to Kuldeep Yadav’s review request

Kuldeep’s first wicket of the afternoon came in the form of Dewald Brevis, who got down on one leg to play the pre-empted slog-sweep and was caught by Rohit, while Marco Jansen’s needless shot was caught by Ravindra Jadeja at the boundary line as the visitors fell like a pack of cards.

Watch the video here: 

Rohit Sharma Reaction After Kuldeep Yadav Asking for DRS 😄

"Wapas jaa bhai". 😭🔥
pic.twitter.com/6SS4bBel3k

— Mamta Jaipal (@ImMD45) December 6, 2025

“We started very well. Arshdeep and Harshit started well; they kept a tight line in the first 7-8 overs, and then the spinners came. It was actually gripping a bit. We were trying to mix the pace. Bowling with the dry ball is a luxury.” The veteran informed at the end of the first innings.

Later, Kuldeep got another wicket of Corbin Bosch, who chipped the ball back into the hands of the spinner. In the very next over, the left-arm spinner collected the wicket of Ngidi, trapped leg before the stumps for one run in 10 balls.

A bad day in the office for Team India. Posting a total of 358 runs in 50 overs and still ending up as the losing side is something Team India could have never expected on December 3 in Raipur. South Africa chased down the huge total brilliantly and won the match by 4 wickets and 4 balls to spare. 

During the match, when India was the fielding side, they conceded a few runs because of poor fielding. In one instance, Kuldeep Yadav's midfield gifted South Africa a boundary. Team India players in the field were in disbelief to see such a mistake. Stand-in captain KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna, the bowler for the over, and Kuldeep himself were all upset because of the misfielding. 

Meanwhile, the expression on Rohit Sharma's face caught every cricket fan's attention. Sharma, the former India captain, was staring at Kuldeep for a while with disbelief and probably with some anger as well. A sentence in the viral video reads, "Bacha gaya KD agara Rohit captain hota to..." And the caption of the post is, "The death stare Rohit Sharma gave Kuldeep Yadav after this misfield is actually killing me."

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Watch Rohit Sharma's facial expression as Kuldeep Yadav misfields in the India vs. South Africa 2nd ODI match:

The de*th stare Rohit Sharma gave Kuldeep Yadav after this misfield is actually killing me 😭pic.twitter.com/SB5H5obK9b

— Kusha Sharma  (@Kushacritic) December 4, 2025

After the dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, Team India was in charge in the first innings because of the batting brilliance of Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad. In the match, Gaikwad scored his maiden ODI hundred, and Kohli claimed his 53rd ODI century. KL Rahul, captain for the series of India, supported his team with a fifty-plus-run inning. 

South Africa opener and experienced batter Aiden Markram slammed a hundred while chasing the big target of 359 runs in the second innings. The middle order of the visiting side provides the batter the much-required support. Matthew Breetzke's patiently built 68-run innings played a crucial role behind the result of the match. Despite taking a couple of wickets, Prasidh Krishna was the most expensive bowler of the night for India. 

India posted a massive score of 349 runs in their allotted 50 overs of the first innings during the opening ODI of the three-match series against South Africa at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Virat Kohli celebrated his 52nd century of the 50-over format while KL Rahul drilled 60 runs in 56 balls at a strike rate of 107.14 with the help of two fours and three sixes.

South Africa didn’t enjoy a great time in the middle during the power play against the new ball bowling of the home side. They lost their captain, Aiden Markram, for seven before Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock got back to the pavilion for two ducks.

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But the fourth wicket-stand between Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breeztze gave them some breathing space before the left-arm wrist spinner of the Indian side, Kuldeep Yadav, broke the stand by trapping the southpaw leg before the stumps as de Zorzi missed the ball and was trapped in front of the stumps.

Watch: Kuldeep Yadav traps Tony de Zorzi LBW for 39 during IND vs SA Ranchi ODI

On the last ball of the 15th over, Kuldeep went for a flat good length delivery that was pushed through on the leg stump. It pitched in line, and the batter made the mistake of playing across the line. It passed his flick shot and hit on the first pad, and later on the back one.

#tonydezorzi dismissal pic.twitter.com/rrOZOqfgsp

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) November 30, 2025

The height could have been an issue, but the third umpire confirmed that it could have gone on to hit the stumps. Virat Kohli let out an almighty roar with the dismissal as Kuldeep, who looked superbly confident, showed his joy with the dismissal. SA lost their fourth wicket and were restricted to 77/4 in 15 overs.

For India, after Kohli’s century, their stand-in captain, KL Rahul, drilled a fine knock of 60 runs while Ravindra Jadeja also smacked 32 runs in just 20 balls at a strike rate of 160, hitting two boundaries and one six. All four bowlers of the Protea side, apart from Subrayen, picked up two wickets each.

India’s stand-in captain for the second Test of the two-match series against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Rishabh Pant, was not happy with the team’s effort as the Indian players were jogging around to ignore the time allowance, which tempered the captain as he expected his teammates to be on time. 

Pant was furious with his left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, who took his time to deliver the ball. He was heard on the stump mic to bowl one delivery quickly and was frustrated when the umpire, Richard Kettleborough, gave him the second warning.

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“Yaar 30 seconds ka timer hai. Ghar pe khel rahe ho kya? Ek ball daal jaldi (Guys, there is a 30-second timer. Are you guys playing at home? Bowl one quickly). Yaar Kuldeep, dono baar warning le li (Kuldeep, we got the second warning). Pura ek over thodi na chahiye. Mazak bana rakha hai Test cricket ko (Do you guys need an entire over (to move)? You guys have made Test cricket a joke).” Pant expressed on the stump mic.

Watch: Rishabh Pant furious as lazy Indian players during 2nd Guwahati Test vs SA

The morning session didn’t start well for the home side with Kyle Verryenne and Senuran Muthusamy, the two overnight batters taking full toll and ending with an unbeaten stand to cross the 300-run mark for the side. India lacked energy and looked tired in the middle.

What's going to be a good score for #TeamIndia to chase in the 1st innings? 💬#CheteshwarPujara backs the batters to score big in Guwahati! 🏟#INDvSA 2nd Test, Day 2 LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/J8u4bmcZud pic.twitter.com/vGjwWPopSm

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 23, 2025

“Field mere ko karne de, tu tappe se daalne ko dekh. Baaki ho jayega kaam. (Let me set the field, you just bowl. The rest will be taken care of. Bhai kal poore din mehnat kari hai yaar, chhodenge nahi. Kaam karte raho. (Guys, we worked hard the entire Day 1. We won’t let it go easily. Keep working.” Pant was heard saying.

Muthusamy, with a single, celebrated his maiden red-ball century with the bat while Ravindra Jadeja broke the stand with the wicket of Verreynne before Marco Jansen nailed his way to 50 runs in just 54 balls with the help of three fours and four sixes.  

India didn’t make a great start with the bat during the second Test of the two-match series against South Africa at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton put up a fine opening stand of 82 runs before Jasprit Bumrah removed the former at the stroke of the first break. 

However, Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs put another fine partnership of 84 runs for the third wicket to nullify the advantage the hosts got early in the second session. But that was when Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm spinner of the Indian side, came back into the attack and collected a few vital wickets.

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Kuldeep sent back Wiaan Mulder on 13 runs. The right-handed batter went for a massive aerial shot as he charged towards the tossed-up delivery, but didn’t get the full elevation with the blade. And the ball ballooned in the air and went straight into the hands of the mid-off fielder, Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was the third wicket of the game for the left-arm wrist spinner.

Watch: Kuldeep Yadav foxes aggressive Wiaan Mulder during IND vs SA 2nd Test

Before the wicket of Mulder, Kuldeep picked up another vital wicket of Tristan Stubbs. It was another tossed-up delivery as the right-handed batter, one run short of his half-century, looked to defend the ball but ended up getting a thick outside edge, and the ball went into the slip region, where KL Rahul judged the fine catch.

Kuldeep Yadav ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸವಾಲು ಹಾಕಿ ಎದುರಾಳಿಗಳು ಅಪಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕುವರೇ? 😈
P.S. ಕೊನೆಯ ವಿಶೇಷ ಸೆಲೆಬ್ರೇಷನ್ ಮಿಸ್ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಡಿ!

📺 ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | #INDvSA 👉 2nd Test | DAY 1 | LIVE NOW | ನಿಮ್ಮ Star Sports 2 ಕನ್ನಡ & JioHotstar ನಲ್ಲಿ.#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/sD6eMPkn4W

— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) November 22, 2025

At the start of the second session, Kuldeep picked up the wicket of Ryan Rickelton. The left-handed batter went forward and played a lazy drive towards the cover as the ball spun away to kiss the outside edge of the bat with Rishabh Pant grabbing a sharp catch low down the ground to send the southpaw batter back into the pavilion.

Kuldeep now has 75 wickets in 31 innings of the red-ball format at an average of around 21 and a strike rate of 36. He stretched his figures to 3/48 in 17 overs, including three maidens.