The year 2025 in cricket was a tapestry woven with raw emotion, shattered myths, and historic triumphs. From India's women scripting a World Cup fairytale on home soil to the much-hyped 'Bazball' philosophy meeting its match, the sport delivered moments that will be etched in memory. As the curtains fell, a series of events captured the imagination, broke barriers, and irrevocably changed fortunes.
A Nation Ignited: India's Women Conquer the World
The defining image of the year came from the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on a day that felt suspended in time. When captain Harmanpreet Kaur clutched the catch to dismiss South Africa's Nadine de Klerk off Deepti Sharma, a surreal silence gripped the crowd before an explosion of joy. India had won the ICC Women's World Cup, a victory made sweeter by the resilience shown after three losses earlier in the tournament.
Broadcaster Ian Bishop called it "a victory that will ignite a nation," and the celebrations proved him right. The scenes were profoundly emotional: Pratika Rawal, who missed the final due to injury, joined the team in a wheelchair, bravely standing on one leg to dance. Legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, who had narrowly missed the trophy twice, finally got their hands on it. The presence of pioneers like Anjum Chopra and Diana Edulji completed a circle, honouring those who paved the way for this historic leap.
The Balloon Bursts: Bazball's Frailty Exposed
If 2025 was the year of a dream fulfilled for India's women, it was the year of a rude awakening for England's men. The Bazball era, built on aggressive intent and positive vibes, was decisively punctured. The lesson, delivered emphatically by a battle-hardened Australian side during the Ashes, was stark: flair is no substitute for discipline, diligence, and graft.
Reports of off-field indulgences during the tour only cemented the narrative of a team losing its way. That Australia achieved this dominance despite not fielding their first-choice XI in any Test made England's shortcomings starker. The hype finally gave way to reality, revealing a one-dimensional approach. As commentator Tushar Bhaduri noted, when England tried to revert to 'proper' Test cricket, they merely delayed the inevitable against a superior opponent.
This frailty was foreshadowed months earlier in England's own backyard. During a gloomy July Test in Birmingham, Shubman Gill delivered a masterclass. His twin centuries (269 and 161) set England a mammoth 600-plus target in the fourth innings. Faced with this challenge, the 'we don't do draws' philosophy under Ben Stokes faced a dilemma. The moment of truth arrived when Gill introduced Washington Sundar into the attack. Stokes, attempting an aggressive stride, was trapped plumb lbw by a delivery with drift and dip. It was a symbolic dismissal, exposing that England's unconventional method was sometimes a choice born of limitation, not just innovation.
Transitions and Triumphs: New Heroes Emerge
2025 was also a year where new leaders stamped their authority. The thrilling 2-2 series draw in England was sealed by a moment of individual brilliance at The Oval. With England needing just seven runs for a one-wicket win, Mohammed Siraj produced a searing, unplayable yorker to shatter Gus Atkinson's off-stump. Siraj's incandescent spell embodied the doggedness of a transitioning Indian team.
Leading this new-look side was Shubman Gill, whose captaincy debut was marked by tactical acumen and a mountain of 754 runs with the bat. While the transition hit a bump with a subsequent 2-0 home loss to South Africa, the series in England proved India had the fight and skill to forge a new identity in the post-Kohli-Sharma-Ashwin era.
For Virat Kohli himself, 2025 brought a deeply personal milestone. After 18 long years of hope and heartbreak, he finally lifted the IPL trophy. The tears of joy that followed were a release felt by millions of his fans, closing a poignant chapter in his illustrious career.
Other Defining Acts: Redemption and Rescue
The year's narrative extended beyond these headlines. Temba Bavuma's South Africa shed the 'chokers' tag in spectacular fashion by defeating Pat Cummins' Australia to win the World Test Championship at Lord's. The victory, celebrated with a stylish Pulp Fiction-themed re-enactment, was a powerful retort to their critics.
In the shorter format, young Tilak Varma announced himself on the big stage. In the Asia Cup final in Dubai, with India reeling at 20/3 chasing 147, the southpaw displayed remarkable temperament and versatile shot-making to guide his team to a memorable win.
Perhaps the most serendipitous moment belonged to the domestic arena. In a Ranji Trophy thriller, Kerala secured their first-ever final berth after 74 years of trying. With Gujarat needing just two runs, a powerful shot seemed destined for the boundary until it struck the helmet of short-leg fielder Salman Nizar. That intervention secured a legendary win, instilling faith in destiny for Kerala's cricket-mad fans.
From World Cup glory to helmet-assisted miracles, 2025 was a testament to cricket's endless capacity for drama, delivering stories of resilience, reality checks, and pure, unadulterated joy.
