There’s something poetic about ending a cricketing year the way India did in Ahmedabad under lights, on a true surface, defending 231 like it was a matter of national pride. The 30-run win over South Africa in the fifth T20I wasn’t just a series clincher (3–1, with one fog-induced no result); it was a closing statement on India’s international calendar for 2025.
Across 21 T20Is this year, India won 15, lost just three, tied one, and saw two matches drift into the void, a 71.42%-win rate, elite by any standard. But while the headlines often chase six-hitting festivals, 2025 quietly became a bowler’s year for India. This wasn’t dominance through mystery alone or pace intimidation in isolation; it was layered, strategic, and deeply intentional.
Varun Chakaravarthy: 36 wickets
This was Varun Chakaravarthy’s year, full stop. 36 wickets at 13.19 across 18 innings is dominance disguised as calm. The five-for against England (5–24) may have come in defeat, but his sustained excellence as Player of the Series vs South Africa, control in Australia, and consistency in the Asia Cup redefined his place in India’s T20 structure. At 34, Varun didn’t reinvent himself; he perfected himself. And that’s far more dangerous.
Kuldeep Yadav: 21 wickets
Here’s the outlier: 21 wickets in just nine innings. Kuldeep’s 2025 was a throwback wrist-spin masterclass dressed in modern efficiency. An average of 10.23 and Asia Cup figures that read like fiction (17 wickets at 9.29) turned him into India’s ultimate middle-overs weapon. From 4–7 against the UAE to tormenting Pakistan thrice, Kuldeep didn’t just take wickets; he collapsed batting plans. Few bowlers in world cricket forced as many recalibrations this year.
Axar Patel: 17 wickets
Quietly, Axar Patel has emerged as a disruption that T20 batting teams are afraid of. The numbers he achieved with his bowling – 17 wickets, 19.17 – and an economy rate of under 7 speak more to something else, which is the ability to build trust for a bowler. Axar was able to bowl through the powerplay overs, middle overs, and high-pressure overs without creating much controversy. In addition, his all-around performance at Carrara (21* and 2-20) and his very economical 2-7 vs. South Africa in Cuttack illustrate how modern T20 spinners create success; by making it difficult for batsmen to gain momentum.
Arshdeep Singh: 15 wickets
Arshdeep’s numbers come with context, and that matters. In a year of experimentation and rotation, he still finished with 15 wickets from 11 innings. Yes, the economy (8.85) looks inflated, but Arshdeep bowls where reputations go to die: the powerplay and the death. His Player-of-the-Match effort in Hobart (3–35) and steady returns against South Africa underline his growing role as India’s left-arm disruptor, not a mere supporting act.
Jasprit Bumrah: 14 wickets
Bumrah’s 2025 wasn’t about volume; it was about inevitability. In just 11 innings, his 14 wickets came at an economy of 7.11, a reminder that control is still a wicket-taking weapon in T20s. Whether it was the Asia Cup final against Pakistan (2–25) or tight spells in Australia at 6.58 economy, Bumrah remained India’s insurance policy, the bowler captains turn to when chaos threatens structure. His genius lies not in surprise anymore, but in precision that opponents can’t escape.
As India looks ahead, the blueprint is clear: control the middle, strike without panic, and trust bowlers to win games even on batting-friendly nights like Ahmedabad. If 2025 was a statement, it wasn’t loud. It was assured. And in T20 cricket, that’s often the most intimidating kind.
Key Takeaway
India didn’t dominate T20Is in 2025 by outscoring teams; they did it by outthinking them with the ball.
FAQs
1. What made India’s bowling special in 2025?
Depth, role clarity, and wicket-taking intent across all phases.
2. Why did Varun Chakaravarthy stand out the most?
His volume, consistency, and match-winning impact across conditions.
3. How important was spin to India’s success?
Crucial spinners took control of the middle overs and broke momentum regularly.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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