Abhinav Mukund picks best T20I playing 11 of 2025; leaves out Jasprit Bumrah

Former India batter Abhinav Mukund picked his best T20I playing XI for 2025, with the 2026 T20 World Cup around the corner (via Star Sports YouTube channel). Despite leaving out ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah from the lineup, Mukund had as many as four Indian players in the 11.

Explosive opener Abhishek Sharma was picked to open alongside Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka. The former enjoyed a 2025 season for the ages in T20Is, amassing 859 runs at an average of almost 43 and a strike rate of 193.46 in 21 games.

Meanwhile, Nissanka finishes the year with 625 runs at an average of 36.76 and a strike rate of almost 150 in 18 outings. Mukund picked an explosive list of batters from No.3 to 7 with Jos Buttler, Tilak Varma, Tim David, and Dewald Brevis.

Buttler scored 480 runs in T20Is this year at an average of over 34 and a strike rate of 164.38 in 15 matches. Tilak was arguably the most consistent T20I batter this season, averaging over 47 at a strike rate of 129.15 in 20 games.

The big-hitting David had arguably his best season in T20Is, finishing with an average of over 49 and a strike rate of 197.50 in 14 outings. The same can be said about Brevis, who finished with an average of almost 31 and a strike rate of 176.42 in 17 matches.

Abhinav Mukund rounded off his top seven with star Indan all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who scored over 300 runs at an average of 33.55 and a strike rate of 153.29, while picking up 12 wickets.

Abhinav Mukund picks three Asian players in his bowling attack

The Asian players dominated Abhinav Mukund's bowling lineup, with the inclusion of Mohammad Nawaz, Mustafizur Rahman, and Varun Chakaravarthy. The former silently went about his business with the ball in style, finishing 2025 with 36 wickets at an average of 13.61 and an economy of 6.56 in 26 T20Is.

Meanwhile, Mustafizur was at his usual best in T20Is this year, finishing with 26 scalps at an average of 17.65 and an economy of 6.09 in 20 outings. The world's No.1-ranked T20I bowler, Varun Chakaravarthy, made batters dance to his tunes, picking up 36 wickets at an average of 13.19 and an economy of 7.08 in 20 T20Is in 2025.

Finally, Mukund chose New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy to complete his best T20I playing 11 for 2025. The 31-year-old finished with 35 wickets at an average of 15.08 in 21 matches.

Abhinav Mukund's best T20I playing XI of 2025

Abhishek Sharma, Pathum Nisaanka, Jos Buttler, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Dewald Brevis, Hardik Pandya, Mohammad Nawaz, Jacob Duffy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mustafizur Rahman

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Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran