From Rohit-Virat’s retirement to double World Cup: 2025 is a historic year for Indian cricket.

New Delhi. The retirement of star batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the longest format of the game, Test, was the biggest event of 2025. The year proved to be a landmark year for Indian cricket, with historic wins and record-breaking performances, but also some heartbreaking defeats.

The year started with a resounding victory for the Indian men’s cricket team as they won the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. On March 9, India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final played in Dubai and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. Rohit Sharma led from the front, scoring a crucial 76 in the final and winning the Player of the Match award. With this win, India won the Champions Trophy title for the third time, further strengthening their position as a strong team in global cricket.

A historic milestone in women’s cricket was achieved when India hosted and won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. From late September to 2 November, the India women’s team displayed extraordinary talent and determination, resulting in a 52-run victory over South Africa in the final in Navi Mumbai. This was India’s first Women’s Cricket World Cup win, which was a significant moment for women’s cricket in the country and inspired a new generation of players across the country.

The excitement continued in September as India retained the Asia Cup (T20) title, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in another high-profile encounter in Dubai on 28 September. With this win, India extended their record by winning the Asia Cup for the ninth time, further strengthening their dominance in the T20 format in the continent. The win was widely celebrated across the country, with fans praising the players’ resilience and skill in another tense encounter against Pakistan. India dominated in January, winning the T20 and ODI series against England 4–1 and 3–0 respectively. Both the teams played another bilateral series this year.

After veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the longest format of the game ahead of the five-match Test series against England, young Shubman Gill was named the new captain, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket. At the end of the year, India defeated the West Indies 2–0 in the Test series, but lost the ODI series in Australia.

However, they bounced back and defeated the Kangaroos in the next five-match T20 series. The Indian team went through its worst phase at the end of the year, when it suffered a 2-0 Test series defeat at home to South Africa. On the domestic front, Karnataka became champions at the start of the year in India’s premier List A competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Later in December, Bihar set a new highest team total in List A history by scoring a mammoth score of 574/6 in a Vijay Hazare Plate group match. This performance highlighted the increasing competition in domestic cricket and the emergence of new talent capable of setting global benchmarks. Globally, the cricket landscape in 2025 was equally dynamic. South Africa emerged victorious in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June, while England achieved a historic Ashes Test victory in Australia at the end of the year.

Looking back, 2025 will be remembered as a defining year for Indian cricket. Success in major ICC tournaments, record-breaking domestic exploits and the emergence of new talent created a story of excellence and resilience. Both the men’s and women’s teams not only won prestigious trophies but also inspired millions of people across the country.