Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund recently named the best Test XI for the calendar year 2025, and wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant could not find a place in the XI. The list, however, included 5 Indian cricketers in the XI.
The year 2025 is over and the Test matches are over, with Australia and England currently playing in the Ashes. Many players performed consistently well and players from the top four teams, Australia, England, South Africa and India, were selected in the eleven.
Former Indian player Abhinav Mukund recently made an appearance on a Star Sports show and during the conversation he named a group of cricketers from around the world.
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Abhinav Mukund rules out Rishabh Pant from best Test XI
Abhinav Mukund made some interesting choices in choosing his best possible playing XI, comprising 11 of the best players from all corners of the world. The team looks very promising with the number of players selected, but is also missing some big names.
Indian wicket-keeper batting Rishabh Pant played for India in the England and South Africa series. He was unable to participate in the series against the West Indies due to a broken foot suffered during the tour of England.
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. Even so, he was not picked in the best Test XI by Abhinav Mukund, who lined up alongside Australian Alex Carey as the team’s gloveman.
Five Indian players named in Playing XI
The former Indian cricketer started with Indian opener KL Rahul and England opener Ben Duckett as openers for his side. KL Rahul has been a very consistent player for the Indian team, while Duckett has also had another rewarding year in the longest format of the game.
A total of 5 Indian players have been named in the Playing XI. Along with KL Rahul, Indian skipper Shubman Gill was also named in the squad after scoring the most runs in the calendar year 2025 with the bat.
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were the two pacers named in the XI. Siraj was named on the back of his strong performance in England, and Jasprit Bumrah became one of the most successful bowlers in red-ball cricket for India.
WTC-winning skipper named team captain
WTC 2025 winning skipper Temba Bavuma was named in the playing XI at number 1.3 and was also named as the team’s skipper. He was named alongside Simon Harmer, the other South African in the squad. He finished with 30 wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja, the veteran Indian all-rounder, is the only all-rounder in the playing XI. He has impressed with 764 runs and has also picked 25 wickets in just 10 matches. Mitchell Starc was also named after finishing 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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