As the year draws to a close and we look back on performances over the season, it is time to take a moment to select our Test team of the season.
There was plenty of action this year, including a WTC Final at Lords, a closely contested five Test series between England and India, and of course the ongoing Ashes.
There have been many stellar performances along the way, and picking just eleven players is a tough assignment, but we are confident that this eleven has what it takes to beat any opposition on any surface.
This side is built on balance and resilience. It combines technical excellence at the top, creativity and aggression in the middle order, depth through genuine allrounders and a varied bowling attack capable of exploiting conditions anywhere in the world.
Here is our Test cricket XI of the season.
KL Rahul earns his place at the top of the order through adaptability and composure. Asked to fill multiple roles across the year, Rahul provided stability when India needed it most.
His ability to leave well early, then shift gears once set, was invaluable in overseas conditions, particularly where movement off the seam tested even the best.
Rahul’s numbers may not scream dominance, but his contributions often came at pivotal moments, setting platforms that others could build on.
No opening batsman scored more runs in 2025 than Rahul.
Rickelton’s emergence has been one of the quieter success stories of the season, but his numbers demand attention. Technically sound and mentally disciplined, the left-hander showed he belongs at the highest level.
His ability to play long innings against quality attacks marked him out as a batter of substance, not just promise. Rickelton complements Rahul well, offering contrast in style while maintaining the same emphasis on control.
It is true that Rickelton’s numbers are built around his mammoth innings of 259 against Pakistan, but however you look at it, he averages more than other candidates like Ben Duckett and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Pope’s season was defined by responsibility. Often batting at number and coming in with his team under pressure, he became a crucial bridge between England’s openers and middle order.
His willingness to absorb pressure and still score at a healthy rate fitted neatly into England’s evolving Test approach. Pope’s best innings were notable for their maturity, suggesting a player growing into a long-term anchor role.
South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder scored more runs and has a better average than Pope, but his numbers are wildly skewed by his innings of 367* against Zimbabwe. For his part, Pope scored two centuries with a high score of 171.
Also read: 7 incredible fourth-innings double-tons
Gill was the standout batter of the year and the natural choice to lead this side. His numbers are extraordinary, but they only tell part of the story. Gill combined elegance with authority, dominating bowling attacks without sacrificing discipline.
Whether countering pace or dismantling spin, he looked in complete control. As captain, he brings calm assurance and tactical clarity, qualities reflected in his own batting.
Such was his form in 2025 that he keeps players like Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Temba Bavuma out of this team.
Pant remains Test cricket’s great disruptor. His presence transforms matches, not just sessions. Batting at five, he repeatedly shifted momentum with fearless stroke play, often against the turning ball or high-quality pace.
Behind the stumps, his energy and sharpness were equally influential. Pant’s ability to change the narrative of a Test earns him a place in any modern XI.
Batting
Bowling
Stokes’ season was not about weight of runs alone. It was about impact. With bat and ball, he delivered in key moments, often dragging England back into contests that seemed to be slipping away.
His bowling spells were short, sharp and decisive, while his batting retained its trademark defiance. As an allrounder, Stokes remains unmatched for influence.
Batting
Bowling
Jadeja’s value lies in his versatility. With the bat, he was remarkably effective in limited opportunities, often finishing innings with control and acceleration.
His bowling, while not always dominant statistically, provided control and breakthroughs when needed.
Jadeja’s athleticism in the field completes the package, making him indispensable in this XI. Jadeja could have been selected at six where his numbers are better than Stokes, but his average at seven is hard to argue with.
Like Stokes Jadeja is a genuine allrounder and his presence in the team adds fantastic depth and balance.
Batting
Bowling
Jansen continues to develop into a genuine Test match allrounder. His left-arm pace added variety to South Africa’s attack, particularly on helpful surfaces, while his batting grew in authority.
Jansen’s height and bounce troubled top-order batters, and his contributions lower down the order added depth to this side.
Bumrah remains the gold standard for fast bowling in Test cricket. His ability to strike early and return for decisive spells later in the innings makes him invaluable.
Bumrah’s control, combined with his unique action, allowed him to succeed across conditions, from seaming tracks to flatter surfaces. He is the spearhead of this attack.
Starc’s numbers this season are extraordinary and underline his match-winning influence. Bowling with pace, swing and hostility, he consistently broke partnerships and ran through lower orders.
Starc remains a bowler who changes games quickly, and his ability to strike with the new and old ball makes him a perfect complement to Bumrah.
2025 and his ongoing success in the Ashes has seen him go past Wasim Akram to become the leading left-arm wicket-taker in Test history.
Harmer’s inclusion reflects the importance of high-quality spin, even in a pace-dominated year. His control, subtle variation and relentless accuracy proved decisive whenever conditions offered assistance.
Harmer provided a genuine wicket-taking option in the middle overs, balancing this attack and ensuring threat across all conditions.
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There has been plenty of outstanding ODI cricket played in 2025 with the year starting with the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and continuing from there.
Although the 50-over format is not as widely played as it was before the advent of T20I, it is still a key part of the annual schedule and a unique format of the game.
The days when a national team was the best eleven players and they played all formats has long gone, such is the level of differentiation between the three different formats.
With that in mind, here is our selection for the best ODI eleven based on performances from 2025.
Few players in world cricket have enjoyed a breakout year of such scale as George Munsey. Scotland’s left-handed opener has long been a formidable presence in T20Is, but in 2025 he transferred that explosiveness seamlessly to the 50-over arena.
His tally of 735 runs at an average above 70 reflects both consistency and intent, and the strike rate north of 100 underlines his ability to dominate even in situations that traditionally reward patience.
While he may only be playing for an associate nation such has been the volume of runs, he has scored and the incredible average, that it is hard to leave him out. Munsey’s success highlights the growing competitiveness of Associate cricket.
He produced several defining innings against Full Member nations, repeatedly giving Scotland the robust starts that made them a difficult side to pry open.
For a role often dominated by household Test names, Munsey’s inclusion is a reminder of the expanding ODI ecosystem and the players who are driving it.
Rohit Sharma’s reputation as one of the modern ODI greats remains intact following another year of high-quality run-scoring. His ability to bat long, absorb pressure and shift tempo without apparent effort was a cornerstone of India’s year.
While he has retired from Test and T20 cricket Rohit’s one-day game remains wonderfully classical: crisp timing, authoritative pull shots and a method built for 50-over pacing.
His 650-run haul came in a year when India were continually adjusting their combinations, but Rohit supplied the stability they needed at the top.
He also saved his best for high stakes matches, including key contributions in the Champions Trophy and against South Africa. Rohit’s strategic nous as a senior opener continues to make India’s top order one of the most accomplished in the world.
A year that began with debates about Kohli’s long-format future ended with another ODI masterclass. Scoring 651 runs at an average exceeding 65, Kohli reaffirmed his status as the format’s most reliable chaser and builder of innings.
His strike rate, near 100, reflects the subtle, risk-managed acceleration that has become his hallmark.
Kohli’s performances during the Champions Trophy were especially crucial, blending composure with precision in conditions that often-challenged stroke play.
When India required control through the middle overs, Kohli delivered, and when they needed impetus, he supplied that too. His continued mastery of pacing an innings cements him at No 3 in this XI.
Shai Hope’s transformation from a classical accumulator to a modern ODI aggressor has been one of the stories of 2025. With more than 600 runs and a strike rate above 100, he has pushed the West Indies into a new era of 50-over cricket, marrying stability with controlled intent.
Behind the stumps, he provides reliability, and with the bat he remains one of the most balanced ODI players in the world. His finishing power and calm under pressure played a central role throughout the year.
There have been plenty of outstanding performances in 2025 from batsmen at number four – South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke had a breakthrough season and became the first ever player to pass 50 in each of his first five innings.
But such has been Hope’s form that he makes the side.
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Salman Agha has become one of Pakistan’s most essential middle-order batters across formats, but his ODI output in 2025 was particularly striking.
With nearly 650 runs at an average comfortably above 50, he bridged the gap between Pakistan’s top order and their often-inconsistent lower middle.
Salman’s greatest attribute is adaptability. He can anchor, rebuild or accelerate depending on the game’s rhythm, and his technique proved especially valuable during the Champions Trophy, where Pakistan’s surfaces demanded craft and concentration.
His ability to manipulate spin and rotate the strike ensures this XI remains balanced through the middle overs.
Glenn Phillips brings the explosiveness that every modern ODI XI needs. His aggregate of 353 runs batting at six, may not match some of the top-order tallies, but his role and impact were immense.
With a strike rate above 115 and an average over 70, Phillips repeatedly delivered quick-fire counterpunches that changed the trajectory of matches.
Equally important is his versatility. Phillips can bat anywhere from No 5 to No 7, adapt to match scenarios and contribute with excellent fielding.
His power hitting at the death phase was central to New Zealand’s competitiveness in 2025, particularly when their senior players rotated in and out of the squad. Handy with the ball as well, Phillips is good for a few overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai strengthens this XI as a genuine all-round option, offering incisive seam bowling and valuable lower-order batting.
His bowling numbers tell the story: 14 wickets at an average barely above 16 and a strike rate of 18.3 mark him as one of the most efficient middle-overs operators of the year.
With the bat, he supplied stability and power, often rescuing Afghanistan after collapses or lifting them to competitive totals. His emergence mirrors Afghanistan’s continued growth in ODI cricket, where they now possess both skill depth and tactical clarity.
Omarzai’s contributions in tight matches stood out, making him a natural fit in this side. He is currently the top ranked ODI allrounder and, along with Mitchell Santner, adds useful balance to our side.
Mitchell Santner had one of his most complete ODI years. His left-arm spin brought crucial control, offering wickets in the middle overs and a miserly economy that strangled opposition batting plans.
Taking 25 wickets at a healthy average, he remained New Zealand’s most reliable spin option.
But his batting was arguably just as impactful. With a strike rate of 135 and the ability to clear the rope at will, Santner became a genuine threat at No 8.
His finishing skills added depth to New Zealand’s lower order, and his calmness under pressure makes him indispensable to this XI. Having done a great job in leading New Zealand to second place in the ICC ODI rankings, Santner gets the job of leading our XI.
Wickets: 27
Strike rate: 18.9
Average: 18.14
Jaden Seales produced one of the standout fast-bowling years in ODI cricket. His raw pace, tight lines and improved tactical nous brought him 27 wickets at a remarkable average of just over 18.
What made Seales especially effective was his ability to strike early; he repeatedly broke opening stands as he set the tone for West Indies’ bowlers.
Seales also demonstrated growing maturity in the death overs, an area where the West Indies have historically struggled. His strike rate of 18.9 reflects his ability to influence matches across phases, and he forms the perfect spearhead for this XI’s pace attack.
Matt Henry continues to be one of the world’s premier ODI seamers, and 2025 added further weight to that reputation. With 31 wickets at an average below 19, he delivered one incisive spell after another.
Henry’s new-ball precision remains his defining strength: movement both ways, impeccable control and the knack for targeting the top of off stump.
He was equally effective in the middle overs when asked to hold an end or search for breakthroughs. Henry’s consistency was vital for New Zealand across conditions, and he forms the backbone of this attack.
No ODI side feels complete without a world-class leg spinner, and Adil Rashid continues to fit that role perfectly. Even as England cycled through new personnel, Rashid remained their most potent wicket-taking threat in the middle overs.
His variations, drift and control brought him 30 wickets at a fine average of 23.63.
Rashid’s ability to turn a match on its head is invaluable. Whether breaking partnerships or attacking aggressively, he gives this XI a point of difference that complements the pace trio beautifully.
Even in challenging conditions, he held his nerve and delivered, proving once again why he remains one of England’s most trusted one-day cricketers.
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As 2025 draws to an end, it’s time to take a look back on the year to see which players have shone on the field in their respective formats.
As we dust off the scorecards from throughout the year, it is time to take a look at who makes our best eleven for each of cricket’s three different formats.
We start with T20I which is a tricky one due to the volume of cricket played by associate nations.
If sheer volume of runs and wickets is the sole criteria, then this team would be dominated by players from nations like Austria, Namibia, Norway and Malaysia.
But we have not based this on volume alone as we also factor in things like averages, strike rates and the quality of the opposition involved. It might not be a perfect formula, but this is who we have picked for our team of the year.
No other opener came close to matching Tim Seifert’s volume of runs and consistency against top-tier opposition in 2025.
His numbers are not inflated against weaker attacks and his ability to fly out of the blocks set New Zealand up repeatedly for match-winning totals.
A strike rate north of 160 combined with an average over 50 is a rare combination in T20Is and reflects a year in which he found the perfect tempo. He dominated pace, punished spin and showcased the sort of clarity of role that makes an opener indispensable in this format.
When the powerplay needed exploiting, Seifert did it better than anyone else. Seifert and Jos Buttler have the ability to keep wicket and will share the gloves in this team.
If 2024 was the year Abhishek Sharma announced himself in franchise cricket, then 2025 was the year he stamped his authority on the international stage.
His strike rate of nearly 195 is outrageous in isolation, but when paired with 773 runs it becomes one of the great T20I returns of recent years – it is no surprise that he is the number one ranked batsman in the format.
Sharma took on pace with audacity, targeted spin with fearless intent and evolved into the sort of opener around whom India could build an entire strategic identity.
He often outscored his partners inside the first six overs and maintained that pressure through the middle phase. Very few players worldwide matched his impact per ball. He is one of the easiest selections in this XI.
England’s former white-ball captain might not have piled up the sheer volume of runs seen elsewhere on this list, but quality of opposition and match context give him a comfortable place in this side.
Buttler played several innings that dragged England over the line in tense chases or revived faltering starts.
A strike rate approaching 150 shows he still has one of the cleanest hitting arcs in the game and, crucially, his wicketkeeping remains reliable and sharp. In a year when many teams experimented behind the stumps, Buttler continued to offer stability and experience.
His calmness in high-pressure situations makes him an invaluable number three.
Brevis, still only 22, enjoyed the breakthrough international year South Africa had been hoping for. Even though his aggregate is modest compared to others in the XI, his impact was enormous.
A strike rate of 173.68 highlights his explosiveness and his ability to turn middling starts into imposing totals. South Africa frequently used him as a catalyst in the middle overs, and he excelled against both pace and spin.
What stood out was his willingness to impose himself from ball one, something not always common among young players adjusting to international attacks.
His promise is now being matched by tangible output, with his undefeated knock of 125 against Australia (the highest ever score by a South African in T20I cricket) a genuine breakthrough moment.
For Brevis, who is also an outstanding fielder, 2025 felt like the first chapter of a long T20I career.
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Mitchell’s numbers do not leap off the page, yet his value to New Zealand throughout the year was immense. Batting in the trickiest portion of a T20 innings, often walking in after a quick wicket or during a rebuild, he played the role of glue without sacrificing intent.
His strike rate of 149 underlines his ability to maintain tempo even when the situation demanded stability.
Mitchell’s presence gives the middle order flexibility and his calm temperament in tight moments was a hallmark of New Zealand’s most composed performances. He remains one of the format’s most underrated players.
Few players strike a cricket ball as brutally and cleanly as Rovman Powell. The former West Indies captain remains one of the world’s most threatening finishers and 2025 saw him refine his shot selection without losing any of his trademark aggression.
His average above 37 is impressive for someone who typically faces few deliveries per innings, and a strike rate above 170 reflects his late-overs dominance.
Powell regularly transformed West Indies totals, exploding at the death in ways that put opponents under severe pressure during the chase. When the game demanded a surge, he delivered it.
Bracewell’s return to full international cricket has been one of the most heartening stories of the year. Used as a floating option, he provided finishing power, middle-overs invention and left-arm spin to balance the XI.
His strike rate above 170 is further proof of his versatility. With the ball he often delivered tight overs that allowed New Zealand to regain control when matches threatened to drift.
Bracewell’s all-round skills make him an ideal modern T20 cricket player and his adaptability across phases earns him a well-deserved place in this XI.
A mainstay of Zimbabwean cricket for nearly a decade, Sikandar Raza continues to produce performances that transcend his team’s fortunes. His 23 wickets in the year came against a wide range of opposition and his economy often kept Zimbabwe afloat.
Raza bowled with intelligence, changed his pace smartly and used angles to force batters into mistakes. What elevates his selection is his ability to impact games in moments that matter.
Whether breaking a dangerous stand or tightening the screws during the middle overs, Raza once again showed why he is among the best off-spinners in the T20I arena.
Raza isn’t just a good bowler, he is also a very good batsman and is currently ranked number two on the ICC’s list of T20I all-rounders.
Bosch is the only selection whose numbers might raise eyebrows at first glance. His batting figures are negligible and hide the real reason for his inclusion: his emergence as one of the most effective seam-bowling all-rounders of the year.
His aggressive lengths, deceptive cutters and skiddy bounce proved difficult for sides attempting to accelerate. While not a frontline wicket-taker in volume, Bosch was consistently used in high-pressure overs and delivered more often than not.
He held South Africa’s attack together during injury disruptions and offered crucial balance at number eight. A late arrival on the international stage, Bosch is the kind of player who ticks all the boxes and who you want playing with you and not against you.
Another year, another T20I masterclass from Shaheen Afridi. With the new ball he remained lethal, bending deliveries into right-handers with trademark menace.
But what made 2025 stand out was his improvement at the death, an area he had worked to refine after criticism in previous seasons. His 26 wickets included breakthroughs in powerplays, middle overs and final overs alike.
Afridi remains one of the few bowlers in world cricket capable of changing a match with a two-ball burst. His numbers reflect sustained excellence and an expanded role in Pakistan’s strategy.
No spinner in 2025 could match Varun Chakravarthy’s impact. His 28 wickets came at a scarcely believable strike rate of 11.7, underlining the frequency with which he struck.
His average of 13.64 highlights just how difficult batters found it to pick and play him. Chakravarthy’s variations, especially his disguised googly and skidder, caused havoc across conditions.
India frequently turned to him for breakthroughs and he delivered. In a format that increasingly favours batters, Chakravarthy was the anomaly: a bowler who dominated the narrative.
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With the series against South Africa now a thing of the past – India won the five‑game T20I component of the Proteas’ recent tour 3-1 – India’s preparation for the defence of their World Cup T20I title is all but done.
When the new edition of the T20 World Cup gets underway in February, India will be hoping to defend their title on home soil. They have already named their squad for the event, and it looks particularly strong.
There will be a handful of players feeling unlucky to have missed out on selection though; here are five T20 cricket stars who can consider themselves hard done by.
Without doubt the most high-profile omission, Shubman Gill has been a key figure for India in recent white-ball cricket.
With his calm presence at the top of the order and ability to play both attacking and anchoring roles, Gill has often been the team’s backbone in high-pressure games.
Gill didn’t score huge runs against South Africa, but he wasn’t out of form either. Given his role as vice-captain and his all-format experience his omission seems harsh.
His dropping has been explained as a product of a change in philosophy, with India deciding that having a wicketkeeper at the top of the order is the best way to find balance in the side.
The decision to go for that option has seen both Gill and incumbent T20I gloveman Jitesh Sharma left out while Ishan Kishan gets the nod.
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A strong contender for the wicketkeeper-batsman slot, Jitesh Sharma has impressed in recent T20I outings. Known for his quick hands behind the stumps and aggressive batting, he was often seen making a difference in tight games.
However, as explained above, the selectors have preferred to go with a keeper who can open the batting and as such Ishan Kishan, who has been in excellent form domestically, has been named as the preferred keeper.
Given his form and versatility, many feel he deserved at least a place in the 15-man squad.
The all-round capabilities of Shahbaz Ahmed have been crucial in India’s T20I setup. His ability to bowl economical off-spin and contribute with the bat in the lower order has made him a dependable option in recent seasons.
While not a first choice, Ahmed was part of the squad for the series against South Africa. Nevertheless, with the squad prioritising other spinning options, Shahbaz missed out on the call-up.
Fans of the left-arm spinner will hope that his continued performances in domestic cricket and the IPL can earn him a spot in future tournaments.
Yet to play for India on the international stage, Ashok’s inclusion would have been a surprise, but his form in the domestic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been excellent.
He is the tournament’s leading wicket taker with 22 wickets at an average of 15.63.
Sometimes outstanding domestic form is enough to sway the selectors, and while Ashok would not have started ahead of Arshdeep or Jasprit Bumrah, his presence in the squad would certainly have been merited.
At 23 years old he still has plenty of time ahead of him to force his way into the team.
A left-handed opener with a fearless approach, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a regular in recent white-ball squads. His ability to attack from the start and rotate the strike efficiently makes him an ideal fit for T20 cricket.
Despite these credentials, he was overlooked for the World Cup squad, as the top order was packed with other experienced options.
Jaiswal’s omission highlights the challenge selectors face when balancing youth and experience, and he will be eager to make his mark in future series.
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It was a big moment for India’s Jasprit Bumrah as his two wickets for 17 runs against South Africa in the opening T20I saw him become just the second Indian bowler, after Arshdeep Singh, to pass the 100-wicket milestone in the format.
But while Arshdeep has 100 wickets in T20Is, Bumrah is now able to claim 100 wickets in all formats of the game – a rare milestone that has only been achieved by five players.
Let’s take a moment to look at the bowlers who can claim over 100 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
The Sri Lankan fast bowler, renowned for his toe-crushing yorkers and unorthodox slinging action, became a T20 pioneer during his career. Malinga’s 101 Test wickets might not seem huge, but his true brilliance lay in limited-overs cricket.
With 338 ODI wickets and 107 T20I scalps, Malinga could change a game with a single over. His hat-trick at the 2007 World Cup remains one of the most iconic moments in cricket history.
Shakib has been Bangladesh’s all-format mainstay for over a decade. His ability to bowl all sorts of variations and extract turn, combined with a knack for picking up key wickets, made him an invaluable player.
With 121 Test wickets, 135 in ODIs, and 126 in T20Is, Shakib’s consistency across formats demonstrates not just longevity but adaptability in all conditions.
He was also very useful with the bat and was the world’s number one ranked all-rounder in various formats at different stages of his career.
Also read: England Ashes power ranking sees Pope and Brook plummet
Now retired, for a long time Southee was New Zealand’s spearhead, sharing the new-ball duties with Trent Boult. He has 391 Test wickets, 221 ODIs, and 164 T20Is under his belt.
His ability to bowl lethal bouncers and swing the ball both ways kept him effective across all formats. Southee’s milestone shows not only endurance but a remarkable skill in transitioning between red-ball and white-ball cricket.
Pakistan’s prodigious left-arm fast bowler has already made his mark across formats despite only being in his early twenties. Afridi boasts 121 Test wickets, 135 ODI wickets, and 126 T20I wickets.
His lethal pace, bounce, and ability to strike early make him one of the few modern bowlers who can dominate in every format of the game.
Bumrah’s rise has been meteoric. His 234 Test wickets, 149 in ODIs, and now 101 in T20Is place him among the elite bowlers who have conquered all formats.
Known for his unique action and pinpoint yorkers, India‘s Bumrah has the ability to choke batsmen in the powerplay or death overs.
Reaching the 100-wicket mark in all formats cements his status as India’s premier fast bowler and one of the most complete bowlers in world cricket.
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The post The 5 most complete, all-format bowlers who are arguably overworked appeared first on Cricket365.
The money flowed on Tuesday as the auction for the 2026 staging of the Indian Premier League took place in Dubai.
While there were plenty of stars who went unsold, there were also large amounts spent on a host of players both international and local. Australia’s Cameron Green became the most expensive ever non-Indian player to be sold at an IPL auction.
But who else was there with him at the top of the spending list? Let’s look at the nine stars who fetched the biggest prices.
At the centre of the auction frenzy was Australia international Cameron Green, whose price underlined how highly IPL franchises value genuine fast-bowling allrounders.
Kolkata Knight Riders were determined to secure a long-term pillar and were willing to stretch their purse to do it. Green’s ability to bat in the top order or finish an innings, combined with his pace and bounce, makes him a rare commodity.
After an injury-hit period, KKR are backing Green to deliver balance and match-winning impact across the season. Curiously, due to an administrative error by Green’s agent, he was listed on auction as a batsman and not as the allrounder that he most definitely is.
KKR doubled down on firepower by retaining Matheesha Pathirana as one of the most expensive buys of the auction. The Sri Lanka quick’s slingy action and lethal yorkers have already earned him a reputation as one of the most difficult bowlers to face at the death.
At just 23, Pathirana represents both immediate impact and future value. For a side that thrives on aggressive bowling plans, his presence could again prove decisive in tight finishes.
One of the surprises of the auction was the price commanded by uncapped allrounder Prashant Veer. Chennai Super Kings have long trusted their talent identification process, and this bid suggested strong belief in Veer’s upside.
A hard-hitting batter with useful seam bowling variations, he fits the CSK profile of versatility and temperament. The investment signals a desire to build for the future while still extracting value in the present.
Sharing the same price tag as Veer, wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma also found a home at Chennai in India. His aggressive stroke play and calmness under pressure have impressed in domestic cricket, and CSK clearly see him as a long-term option behind the stumps.
With the franchise renowned for nurturing players into defined roles, Sharma’s development will be closely watched, particularly in high-pressure run chases.
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Livingstone remains one of the most destructive white-ball batters in the game, and Sunrisers Hyderabad were prepared to pay handsomely for his services. Capable of clearing any boundary and offering part-time spin, he adds flexibility to the middle order.
For a franchise seeking greater consistency, Livingstone’s ability to change games in a handful of overs could be the difference between a mid-table finish and a playoff push.
Josh Inglis’ value has grown steadily with his performances for Australia, and Lucknow Super Giants moved decisively to secure him.
A dynamic wicketkeeper-batter who can open or bat in the middle order, Inglis offers adaptability that is vital across a long tournament. His price reflected confidence that he can handle IPL intensity and provide stability in multiple roles.
Experience counted for Mustafizur Rahman, whose cutters and variations remain highly effective on slower surfaces. KKR’s decision to invest again in the Bangladeshi seamer suggests a clear plan to dominate middle and death overs.
Mustafizur’s calmness and tactical awareness make him a reliable option in crunch moments, even if raw pace is no longer his primary weapon.
Auqib Dar’s rise through the domestic ranks has been rapid, and Delhi Capitals were prepared to back potential with a significant bid. A tall fast bowler capable of extracting bounce, Dar fits Delhi’s preference for pace-heavy attacks.
While he remains untested at IPL level, the franchise clearly believes his skill set can translate to the biggest stage.
Completing the list is Ravi Bishnoi, whose consistency and control with legspin continue to attract strong interest. Rajasthan Royals secured him at a price that reflects both reliability and growth potential.
Bishnoi’s ability to bowl in the powerplay and middle overs, while still attacking for wickets, gives Rajasthan a valuable tactical option as they look to balance aggression with control.
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The post The 9 biggest buys at the IPL player auction – how high did Liam Livingstone’s price go? appeared first on Cricket365.
While there were some surprise purchases made at the 2026 Indian Premier League auction on Tuesday, there were also some names who were surprisingly unable to attract bids – proven T20 stars with international pedigrees and outstanding track records.
But sometimes it is about the ability to find hidden gems and bargains at the auction, rather than picking more expensive stars.
As we reflect on Tuesday’s action from Dubai, here are the nine biggest surprises of players who went unsold.
Perhaps the most eye-catching omission of all, Devon Conway’s name passing without a bid raised eyebrows across the auction room.
The New Zealand opener has been one of the most consistent performers in franchise T20 cricket over the past few seasons, combining classical technique with modern scoring options.
His calmness at the top of the order and proven ability to anchor chases have made him a trusted option across formats.
The likely explanation lies less in form and more in squad composition, with teams prioritising younger overseas batters or multi-skilled allrounders – although given Conway’s ability to keep wicket it is a surprise that he stayed unbought.
Raw pace rarely goes out of fashion at the IPL, which made Joseph’s lack of interest all the more surprising. The West Indies quick has the ability to hurry even the best batters and has delivered match-winning spells on the international stage.
However, inconsistency and questions around economy rates at the death may have worked against him. Franchises appeared more inclined towards bowlers who offer control as well as speed, particularly on flatter pitches expected in 2026.
Atkinson’s rapid rise in international cricket suggested he might attract interest as a high-upside investment. Capable of bowling briskly and contributing useful lower-order runs, the England seamer fits the modern T20 profile.
Yet he remains relatively untested in franchise leagues, and caution may have prevailed among teams unwilling to gamble on potential rather than a longer T20 track record.
Also read: Cricket’s bromances – 7 duos who have played together the most
Mulder’s omission speaks to a recurring theme at the auction: specialists often being preferred over allrounders who do many things well without excelling in one area.
If anything, Mulder is maybe not quite quick enough as a bowler and not a fast enough scorer as a batsman. A dependable seam-bowling option and a technically sound batter, Mulder has been valuable for South Africa, particularly in longer formats.
In a T20 market obsessed with impact overs and explosive batting, his steady skill set may have been overlooked.
Bracewell has been a regular contributor in white-ball cricket for New Zealand, offering off-spin control and clean hitting down the order. His ability to slot into multiple roles usually makes him an attractive squad player.
That he went unsold suggests franchises were hunting for more specialist power hitters or wrist spinners, roles that tend to command higher value at auction tables. Bracewell is not lacking for IPL experience having played for RCB in 2023.
Few players have built a stronger reputation for performing on the biggest stage than Mitchell, whose calmness under pressure has defined New Zealand’s recent tournament success. His adaptability across formats should, in theory, translate well to the IPL.
However, Mitchell’s methodical style and preference for building innings may not align with teams seeking instant acceleration from overseas middle-order batters. Regarded more as an ODI player than a T20 player Mitchell can still consider himself wildly unlucky to miss out.
Gurbaz’s absence was another notable talking point. The Afghan wicketkeeper-batter is capable of breathtaking starts and has proven his worth in multiple T20 leagues around the world.
Yet his high-risk approach can be volatile, and teams may have been wary of inconsistency at the top of the order, particularly when safer domestic options were available.
Once a near-automatic IPL pick, Bairstow’s fall from demand highlights how quickly franchise cricket evolves. Still a formidable striker of the ball, his recent international form and age profile may have counted against him.
Franchises appear increasingly focused on players who can be retained and developed over multiple seasons, rather than established names nearing the latter stages of their careers.
Smith’s inclusion among the unsold players is perhaps the most curious from a future-facing perspective. Young, versatile and highly rated in England circles, he represents exactly the kind of long-term investment IPL teams often favour.
That he went unsold may say more about timing than talent, with franchises already committed to overseas wicketkeepers and reluctant to adjust their plans late in the auction.
Read next: The 9 mega brands behind Virat Kohli’s extreme wealth
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Cricket, perhaps more than any other sport, thrives on partnerships.
Whether it’s a calm but steady opening stand, a game-changing partnership in the middle, or a lethal combination of bowler and wicketkeeper, the chemistry between players can define careers and even eras.
Over the years, some pairs have played an extraordinary number of international matches together, forging partnerships that left indelible marks on the game.
With the legendary duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (or RoKo as they are known) still going strong, let’s look at seven duos whose longevity and consistency on the international stage are a testament to their skill, fitness, and mutual understanding.
At the top of the list are Sri Lanka’s batting stalwarts Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Between them, they played a staggering 550 international matches, combining in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Their partnership was the backbone of Sri Lankan cricket for over a decade.
Both elegant and technically proficient, they complemented each other perfectly. Jayawardene’s classical approach balanced Sangakkara’s more aggressive stroke play, making them a nightmare for bowlers.
Beyond the statistics, their leadership roles and cricketing intelligence elevated Sri Lanka to consistent success on the world stage.
Also read: England Ashes power ranking sees Pope and Brook plummet after the Gabba
Jayawardene also features in the second spot, this time paired with explosive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan. Dilshan’s innovative stroke play, especially his trademark “Dilscoop,” meshed well with Jayawardene’s composed style.
Together, they played 426 matches, providing both flair and stability for the Sri Lankan side across formats. Their understanding at the crease allowed them to rotate strike effectively while punishing loose deliveries, making them a versatile and dangerous pair.
Sangakkara and Dilshan, another prolific Sri Lankan duo, played 418 matches together. Like the Jayawardene-Dilshan combination, this pairing blended skill and ingenuity.
Sangakkara’s sharp cricketing mind complemented Dilshan’s audacity, producing match-winning partnerships in crucial encounters. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and formats ensured they remained mainstays of the national side for years.
Few cricketing partnerships are as iconic as that of Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan. The explosive opener and the spin legend played 408 matches together for Sri Lanka.
While Jayasuriya could decimate bowling attacks at the top, Muralitharan spun webs at the other end, creating pressure that often broke opposition teams.
Their combined longevity and consistency were crucial to Sri Lanka’s golden era, including their 1996 World Cup triumph and several successful Test series.
South Africa’s batting and wicketkeeping combination of Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher is a reminder of how complementary skills can create long-lasting partnerships.
Kallis, arguably the best all-rounder of his generation, if not of all time, provided runs consistently, while Boucher’s sharp glovework behind the stumps ensured he contributed in every facet of the game.
Together, they played 407 matches, a period in which South Africa became a formidable force across formats. Kallis’ consistency and Boucher’s resilience created a sense of stability that helped South Africa compete at the highest level consistently.
India’s modern-era batting giants Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have shared the field 392 times, with the tally still rising as they look to make their way through to the next ODI World Cup.
Their partnership has been central to India’s dominance in limited-overs cricket, combining the elegance and aggression of Sharma with Kohli’s unrelenting intensity.
The pair have played pivotal roles in India’s victories in bilateral series, ICC tournaments, and record-breaking innings.
Their understanding, both in singles running and strategic partnerships, has often rescued India from tricky situations and has seen them set or chase imposing totals.
Finally, no list of cricketing partnerships is complete without the Master Blaster and the Wall. Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, two of India’s greatest ever batsmen, played 391 international matches together.
While Tendulkar dazzled with his stroke play, Dravid’s solidity and patience allowed the pair to anchor innings. They forged countless memorable partnerships, from run chases to saving Tests, and became the spine of Indian cricket during the 1990s and 2000s.
Their mutual respect and complementary styles epitomized the art of batting in tandem.
Read next: Was that the greatest spell of bowling in the Ashes ever from Mitchell Starc?
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Few achievements ignite an Ashes series quite like a rapid century.
Across more than 140 years of Anglo-Australian rivalry, only a handful of batters have reached three figures at breakneck speed, transforming matches with a burst of audacity and timing.
From Joe Darling at the end of the nineteenth century to Travis Head’s modern-day pyrotechnics, these innings have defined momentum swings, electrified crowds and etched themselves into cricketing folklore.
Here are the five fastest Ashes Test cricket centuries of all time.
The fastest century in Ashes history still belongs to Adam Gilchrist, who tore into England at the WACA in 2006 with a display that pushed the boundaries of Test batting.
Arriving with Australia already in control, after Matthew Hayden’s 92 and Michael Hussey’s 103, Gilchrist unleashed a furious counterattack framed by clean hitting down the ground and brutal cuts and pulls.
His fifty came in just 40 balls and he accelerated further thereafter, bringing up his century from 57 deliveries with a towering blow over midwicket. England had no answer as the left-hander’s onslaught shifted the match from dominance to obliteration.
The innings epitomised his role in reshaping the tempo of Test cricket and remains a high-water mark of explosive batting.
Also read: England Ashes power ranking sees Pope and Brook plummet after the Gabba
Travis Head has made a habit of bending Ashes contests to his will, and his 69-ball hundred in Perth in the opening Test of the 2025 series was another blistering example of his ability to seize a moment.
Scheduled to bat down the order at five in a low scoring game, Australia made the inspired move to send Head in as a fourth innings opener.
It was a gamble that paid off handsomely as Head, with the mandate to hit Australia out of trouble, blasted his way to a 69-ball ton as he showed fierce intent through the off-side and a willingness to take on the short ball.
His tempo never dipped, and England’s bowlers struggled to pin him down as he surged to three figures. The innings was a statement of how modern batters, armed with confidence from white-ball cricket, can dictate the rhythm of a Test.
Batting at number seven, Gilbert Jessop’s legendary 76-ball century at The Oval in 1902 remains one of the most celebrated Ashes knocks.
Facing a formidable Australian attack on a wearing pitch, Jessop strode out with England in deep trouble at 48 for five chasing 263.
What followed was a whirlwind of late-cutting, forcing drives and audacious hooks as the crowd erupted at every boundary. His hundred turned the Test on its head and laid the foundation for one of England’s greatest comeback victories.
More than a century later, Jessop’s feat endures not only for its speed but for the boldness and nerve that defined it in an era long before modern bats were engineered for power.
Although Jessop fell before England claimed the win, they hung in to win by a single wicket.
Long before the Ashes became a global sporting spectacle, Joe Darling delivered one of its earliest pieces of rapid-fire brilliance. His 85-ball century in Sydney in 1898 showcased a left-hander ahead of his time, willing to drive on the up and punish anything loose.
Darling’s innings stood out in an era of slow scoring and attritional cricket, marking him as a batter with rare aggression and timing.
The knock helped Australia take command of the match and highlighted the value of tempo in Test batting long before the concept of strike-rate was commonplace. It remains one of the defining performances of nineteenth-century Ashes cricket.
Head’s first Ashes century, an 85-ball burst at the Gabba in 2021, foreshadowed what would follow in later series.
Coming in under pressure with Australia not yet in full control, he counterattacked with crisp strokes square of the wicket and decisive footwork against both pace and spin.
His acceleration after reaching fifty dismantled England’s plans, and by the time he reached his century he had altered the momentum of the entire series.
It announced his arrival as a middle-order force capable of changing matches in a session and signalled the evolution of Australia’s Test batting identity in the early 2020s.
Read next: Was that the greatest spell of bowling in the Ashes ever from Mitchell Starc?
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The West Indies ended their recent run of poor Test form this weekend by holding on for an unlikely draw against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Set a target of 530 to win, the Caribbean outfit were 457 for six when the game finished.
It was a remarkable effort to hold off the Black Caps, an effort that relied heavily on the contribution of one man, Justin Greaves, who became just the seventh player in the history of Test cricket to score a fourth innings double-ton.
This elite group of batsmen have achieved what many of the game’s greatest never have: a double century in the fourth innings of a Test, under immense pressure and often against formidable bowling attacks on pitches that have deteriorated over five days.
Let’s take a closer look at the players who have managed this rare feat.
Greaves’ innings was a masterclass in patience and power. Facing a target of 530, the West Indies were teetering on the brink, yet Greaves’ 202 not out kept them in contention and ultimately secured a draw.
His stroke play ranged from elegant drives through the offside to punishing shots over midwicket, demonstrating both finesse and fearlessness. The innings has already been described as one of the most important in West Indies cricket this century.
Also read: What actually is Bazball?
Mayers’ heroic innings came under similar circumstances, chasing 395 for victory in the final Test against Bangladesh.
With the team tottering at 59 for three, debutant Mayers joined another debutant Nkrumah Bonner (who made 86), and produced a breathtaking unbeaten 210, guiding the West Indies to an improbable win.
His composure and timing against a disciplined spin attack earned him widespread acclaim and secured his place in Caribbean cricket folklore.
Astle’s innings remains one of the most celebrated fourth-innings performances in modern Test cricket. Chasing a mammoth 550, New Zealand was reeling at 119 for three, yet Astle’s 222 gave his side a real chance to contest the game.
His powerful drives and sharp footwork against England’s seamers were widely praised, and the innings is remembered as a blend of technical mastery and unrelenting determination.
Sadly for Astle his knock wasn’t enough to get the chase over the line as England won by 98 runs.
Greenidge’s unbeaten 214 at the home of cricket helped the West Indies secure a famous nine wicket win as his side charged back from a first innings deficit to haul in a target of 344 for the loss of just a single wicket.
Facing England’s finest bowlers on a pitch that offered plenty, Greenidge’s innings was a testament to concentration and courage. His timing and placement were exquisite, and the innings further cemented his reputation as one of the West Indies’ most dependable batsmen.
Having lost opening partner Desmond Haynes early, Greenidge and Larry Gomes (92*) made light work of a seemingly difficult target.
Gavaskar’s 221 came at a time when Indian cricket was asserting itself against established powers. Batting in the fourth innings at The Oval, he guided India to a credible draw against a strong England side.
The innings highlighted his hallmark traits: impeccable technique, calm temperament, and the ability to withstand pressure, setting a benchmark for all subsequent Indian batsmen in similar situations.
The match had looked to be heading England’s way when India started the chase needing 437 to win, but an opening stand of 213 between Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan put India right back in the mix.
When the game ended India were eight runs away from victory while England still needed two wickets.
Edrich’s 219 in South Africa came on a challenging pitch and remains one of the earliest examples of a fourth-innings double century.
With the team under pressure to either draw or chase down an imposing total, Edrich’s innings combined elegance with grit.
His careful shot selection and ability to rotate the strike kept England competitive, underscoring the timeless nature of skill and perseverance in cricket.
Headley, often called the “Black Bradman,” produced a remarkable 223 under conditions that would have tested the best batsmen of any era.
The Windies were on the backfoot from the outset as England posted a first innings total of 849, built around the enormous total of 325 from Andy Sandham.
Facing a strong England attack on a deteriorating Kingston wicket, Headley displayed poise, judgment, and aggressive stroke play. His innings remains iconic in West Indies cricket history, symbolizing resilience and supreme batting craft.
The game itself ended in a draw.
Read next: How good is Ben Stokes really?
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It’s fair to say that the current Ashes series is not unfolding as England wanted.
Even in their worst-case scenario they wouldn’t have imagined it going this badly.
Currently 2-0 down in the series having played less than five days’ worth of cricket, England are looking decidedly second-rate.
England arrived in Australia boasting the world’s two top ranked Test cricket batsmen in the form of Joe Root and Harry Brook. They also featured what was allegedly the fastest bowling quintet since the dawn of speed measurement.
On paper, it all sounded good; so how is it turned so bad so quickly? A lot has been made of Bazball, with the current players sparring in the media with former players, while Australia quietly gets on with their business. Is Bazball the problem? Indeed, what is Bazball?
Let’s take a moment to unpack it and see if we can find a way for England to get out of the hole they have dug for themselves.
Also read: England Ashes power ranking sees Pope and Brook plummet
Bazball is the term widely used to describe the ultra-positive, attacking style of Test cricket adopted by England since Ben Stokes became captain and Brendon “Baz” McCullum became head coach in 2022.
Bazball is a philosophy essentially comprised of five principal tenets.
Let’s start by saying that in principle, the concept of Bazball is a good one. Who doesn’t want to watch aggressive batting? But already, at this stage the message starts to get confused – because what does it mean to be aggressive?
Hitting sixes and trying to score at a run-a-ball is one way of being aggressive. But that is not the only way of being aggressive. Different situations call for different types of aggression.
Muhammed Ali spoke a great game ahead of the Rumble in the Jungle before he rope-a-doped his way through a significant portion of the fight, making George Foreman throw (and miss) the punches.
Who was the aggressor in that situation? Although it was Foreman who was swinging, it was Ali who was in control, making Foreman perform exactly as he wanted to.
At the risk of offending, England’s interpretation of aggression lacks both depth and nuance. Aggression is not swinging for the hills and hoping for the best, aggression is about dominating your opponent and submitting them to your will.
As it stands it is Australia who are in complete control, they know what to expect, they know how to deal with it, and they are reaping the results with extreme efficiency. Quite frankly, England are not being aggressive, they are being stupid.
Who can, or would want to, argue with this? Positive intent should mean knowing what the goals are and seeking to achieve them.
Each ball should have a goal in the same way that each session or phase of play should have a goal. But that goal isn’t always spectacular. Your goal cannot always be to score 400 runs in a day.
There are times when you must dig foundations and there are times when you need to put your foot on the opposition’s throat and go for the kill. What is missing for England at present is the ability to shape a match. This is Test cricket – it unfolds over five days.
While it can theoretically be won in two days, that’s not the way it has been designed and England need to ask themselves, have Australia been winning inside three days or has it been a case England finding the quickest way to hand the result to Australia?
McCullum and Stokes have repeatedly stressed that players should not worry about failure. This is great and, in many ways, it should be seen as a gift to the players allowing them to go out and play with confidence knowing that they are backed.
There is, however, a difference between fear and embarrassment and, as it stands, England may be playing with a freedom of fear, but they are certainly not free of embarrassment.
Another wonderful tenet which has seen England declare innings early, chase large fourth-innings targets and select teams to maximise attacking potential, even in unfavourable conditions.
This is fantastic and it is something that should be encouraged. But again, there should be context.
If you are 2-1 up in a Test series and asked to chase a score 600 to win the final Test, perhaps throwing caution to the wind isn’t the answer, if doing so could mean squaring the series 2-2.
If, however, you were 2-1 down, then playing to draw the game would be meaningless and all-out attack should be encouraged. As it stands it feels like the philosophy of Bazball trumps the context of any game or series situation and that is England’s massive failure.
Another wonderful ideal and one which should be praised. The question to ask here, is what is entertainment? Perhaps it is best illustrated in a football context.
Would you support a team who score four goals every weekend but concede five or would you prefer to support a side who win 1-0 week in and week out?
As a neutral it goes without saying that watching the nine-goal thriller would be the preference of most fans.
But as a supporter you want to see your team winning. England are one of the best supported teams in the world, but their poor fans are not seeing them win often enough. Entertainment is first about winning and second about winning in style.
So, what do England do now? As it stands there doesn’t seem to be a Plan B or an understanding of what aggression is. That needs to change – immediately.
England DO have the skills to win Tests in Australia (and anywhere else for that matter), but they need to mix things up. That’s not to say they must abandon aggression and the desire to win, they just need to understand that sometimes they need to grind it out.
As it stands Australia can see them coming and they know exactly what to expect, which is absolutely no way to seize the initiative and control a game.
Aggression is also about the element of surprise, it is about cunning and craft and yet, sometimes it is about the grind. In a world where Australia knows exactly what is coming it is very easy plan against it.
Is Bazball something new or did England just rename winning cricket? If you look at the five key tenets of Bazball as outlined above it is hard to argue that England invented it.
In 1986 an England side that featured, amongst others, Ian Botham, Graham Gooch, Mike Gatting, David Gower and Allan Lamb toured the West Indies and were hammered 5-0.
The West Indies side skippered by Viv Richards featured players like Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Richie Richardson, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner.
They were fearsome and, while England may choose to deny this, that West Indies team played Bazball – or at least, they played cricket that featured each of the five core tenets of Bazball.
And they weren’t the only side to do it. Donald Bradman and Steve Waugh’s great Australian sides were similar. Graeme Smith’s South African’s similarly so. Bazball is the way top teams play cricket.
But and this is the part that will hurt England fans, if you aren’t a top team, you can’t play that type of cricket – you certainly can’t play it all the time, and that is what England are failing to recognize.
If you walk into a game as the favourite, then you might look to impose yourself from the outset.
But if you walk in as the underdog, you are the underdog for a reason and you must adapt. In short, England cannot play the same way against Australia as they would against Zimbabwe.
If England’s goal is to find a way back into the series in the third Test (which we assume is what they are looking to do), then they need to find a way to win. Can they rock up in Adelaide and play the same way they have in the first two Tests. Quite simply, no, they cannot.
So, what has to change? They need to earn the right to go big and they need to find a way to balance aggression with consequence.
The 10th wicket partnership in Brisbane between Jofra Archer and Joe Root is a great example of when it was appropriate to play shots and chance the arm – and it worked.
The pair shared a 70-run stand as they gambled and won. If they had lost, the consequences would not have been overly severe as at 264 for nine there was very little to lose.
England need to find a way to dictate terms in Adelaide. Steve Smith has scarcely had anything to do as captain of Australia because at no point has he had to react to anything. England have been predictable, and predictable is no way to win a game.
England need to find a way to back up their talk by delivering in the field. The catching in Brisbane was atrocious; and you can say what you like about the pink ball and the awkward evening light, but Australia had it too and they were excellent.
You can talk about ‘results-driven boldness’ and ‘freedom from fear’ all you like, but if you can’t hold your catches, it doesn’t mean anything.
Read next: How good is Ben Stokes really?
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