The 2025 calendar year marked a clear turning point for men’s T20 International cricket.
Established powers adapted to an increasingly aggressive template, while associate nations began pushing statistical boundaries once thought untouchable.
Strike rates climbed, powerplay dominance became non-negotiable, and bowlers were judged as much on wicket-taking impact as control.
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India’s transition into a younger, fearless T20I side defined much of the year.
Under a new leadership core, they collected silverware, set tactical benchmarks, and produced individual performances that reshaped modern T20 thinking.
Meanwhile, associate nation Austria’s Karanbir Singh smashed the record for most T20I runs in a calendar year (scoring 1488 in 32 innings).
With records broken, rankings rewritten, and roles redefined, here is a data-driven selection of the best men’s T20I XI of 2025.
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T20I team of the year 2025
Best playing XI of 2025 in men's T20I cricket: Abhishek Sharma, Pathum Nissanka, Jos Buttler, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Dewald Brevis, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Nawaz, Jacob Duffy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mustafizur Rahman.
Abhishek Sharma (Opener)
Abhishek’s 2025 season redefined T20I opening. He reached the No.1 T20I batting ranking, registered the highest ICC rating ever, and became the fastest to 1,000 T20I runs by balls faced. His 135 off 54 against England at the Wankhede was widely regarded as the innings of the year.
Stats: 21 matches | 21 inns | 859 runs | Avg 42.95 | HS 135
Pathum Nissanka (Opener)
Nissanka complemented aggression with consistency. While not as explosive as his opening partner, his reliability across conditions and a almost match-winning Asia Cup century against India anchored Sri Lanka’s top order throughout the year.
Stats: 18 matches | 18 inns | 625 runs | Avg 36.76 | HS 107
Jos Buttler (No. 3)
Buttler remained England’s engine room. Batting at No.3, he bridged the powerplay and middle overs seamlessly, maintaining a strike rate close to 150 despite juggling international and franchise commitments.
Stats: 15 matches | 14 inns | 480 runs | Avg 34.28 | HS 96
Tilak Varma (No. 4)
Tilak’s rise continued in 2025. Calm under pressure and increasingly fluent against spin, he produced several decisive innings, including a standout 73 against South Africa late in the year.
Stats: 20 matches | 18 inns | 567 runs | Avg 47.25 | HS 73
Dewald Brevis (No. 5)
Brevis announced his arrival at the highest level in emphatic fashion. His unbeaten 125 off 56 against Australia became South Africa’s highest individual T20I score, confirming his reputation as a generational talent.
Stats: 17 matches | 17 inns | 464 runs | Avg 30.93 | HS 125*
Tim David (Finisher)
David’s role was clear: accelerate without compromise. His ability to clear boundaries at will made him one of the most feared death-over batters, often shifting momentum in a matter of deliveries.
Stats: 14 matches | 10 inns | 395 runs | Avg 49.37 | HS 102*
Hardik Pandya (All-rounder)
Pandya enjoyed a vintage year. He broke Yuvraj Singh’s record for most T20I matches with a 50-plus score and a wicket, while delivering match-winning spells and explosive finishes.
Stats: 15 matches | 12 inns | 302 runs | Avg 33.55 | HS 63
Mohammad Nawaz (All-rounder)
Nawaz provided crucial balance. His left-arm spin produced regular breakthroughs, and his lower-order hitting added depth in a format where flexibility proved vital.
Stats: 26 matches | 24 inns | 36 wkts | Avg 13.61 | BBI 5/19
Jacob Duffy (Fast bowler)
Duffy’s relentless wicket-taking earned him global recognition. He became the first New Zealand bowler to take over 30 T20I wickets in a calendar year and briefly rose to the No.1 T20I bowling ranking.
Stats: 21 matches | 20 inns | 35 wkts | Avg 15.08 | BBI 4/14
Varun Chakaravarthy (Spinner)
Chakaravarthy completed a remarkable comeback. He finished as India’s leading wicket-taker and joint-highest among full-member nations, confusing batters across continents with his variations.
Stats: 20 matches | 18 inns | 36 wkts | Avg 13.19 | BBI 5/24
Mustafizur Rahman (Fast bowler)
Mustafizur’s cutters remained a nightmare for batters. His economy and knack for breaking partnerships ensured Bangladesh always stayed competitive in high-scoring contests.
Stats: 20 matches | 20 inns | 26 wkts | Avg 17.65 | BBI 3/11
Related links:
- Men's ODI team of the year: Best playing XI of 2025 in men's ODI cricket
- Men's Test team of the year: Best playing XI of 2025 in men's Test cricket
- More cricket news