Top 5 Indian Batsmen Who Failed to Perform This Season (2025)

The 2025 cricket season has been a rollercoaster ride for Indian cricket fans. While several players rose to the occasion and delivered match-winning performances, a few high-profile batsmen failed to live up to expectations. Whether it was the Indian Premier League (IPL), international series, or domestic tournaments, these players couldn’t find their rhythm, leaving fans and selectors disappointed.

In this article, we take a closer look at the top 5 Indian batsmen who underperformed in 2025, analyzing their form, statistics, and possible reasons behind their slump.

1. KL Rahul

Matches Played (2025): 18

Runs Scored: 412

Average: 24.2

Strike Rate: 116.5

Once seen as a versatile and dependable batsman across all formats, KL Rahul’s form has dipped significantly in 2025. Despite his talent and calm demeanor, Rahul failed to convert starts into big scores consistently. Whether opening the innings or batting in the middle order, his timing seemed off, and he often fell to soft dismissals.

In the IPL, he struggled to anchor innings as he used to, and even in ODIs and T20Is for India, his shot selection and lack of aggression were questioned. The rise of younger, aggressive batsmen has made his place in the squad uncertain.

Possible Reason:

Rahul has battled several minor injuries this season, affecting his rhythm and consistency. There also seems to be a mental block when it comes to playing under pressure.

2. Shreyas Iyer

Matches Played (2025): 20

Runs Scored: 391

Average: 22.4

Strike Rate: 112.8

Shreyas Iyer’s return to the national setup after injury was expected to stabilize India’s middle order. However, the reality has been far from expectations. Despite getting enough chances across formats, Iyer couldn’t play any significant innings that changed the course of a game.

He struggled particularly against short-pitched bowling — a flaw that has been exposed repeatedly by both domestic and international bowlers. In IPL 2025, his captaincy was also underwhelming, and he looked low on confidence.

Possible Reason:

There appears to be a technical deficiency in his batting, especially against pace and bounce. Add to that the pressure to secure a permanent spot in the middle order, and his natural game seems compromised.

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Matches Played (2025): 16

Runs Scored: 355

Average: 23.6

Strike Rate: 118.4

Ruturaj Gaikwad had a breakthrough season in the IPL a couple of years ago and was seen as a future star. However, the 2025 season has not gone according to plan. Gaikwad’s struggle to accelerate in T20s and his inability to convert his starts into big innings have hurt his consistency.

Although technically sound, Gaikwad often found himself getting stuck at the crease. His strike rotation has been poor, and bowlers have figured out how to choke him with tight lines.

Possible Reason:

Gaikwad seems to be caught between playing his natural game and adapting to the aggressive demands of modern white-ball cricket. The pressure to perform quickly might be affecting his rhythm.

4. Ishan Kishan

Matches Played (2025): 14

Runs Scored: 275

Average: 19.6

Strike Rate: 128.3

Once hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Ishan Kishan’s graph has taken a downward turn this season. After being in and out of the squad due to fitness and discipline issues earlier, his performances with the bat didn’t help his case in 2025.

Despite a few aggressive starts, Kishan’s impulsive stroke play often led to his downfall. His inability to build an innings and his reckless shot selection have raised serious questions about his temperament.

Possible Reason:

Kishan’s fearless approach is both his strength and weakness. In trying to dominate every delivery, he often loses his wicket at crucial junctures, which reflects poor match awareness.

5. Suryakumar Yadav

Matches Played (2025): 17

Runs Scored: 342

Average: 21.3

Strike Rate: 122.7

Suryakumar Yadav’s dip in form has been one of the biggest shocks this season. Known for his 360-degree batting and consistency in the shortest format, Surya was expected to be a mainstay in India’s middle order. However, in 2025, his flamboyance didn’t yield results.

He tried to innovate too often and ended up throwing away his wicket in crucial situations. Even in the IPL, his returns were mediocre, with very few match-winning knocks.

Possible Reason:

There’s a visible over-reliance on his unconventional shots. As bowlers adapt and set smarter fields, his range-hitting has been neutralized. A more traditional approach might help him regain form.

My Opinion

It’s important to note that form is temporary, and class is permanent. All five of these players have the talent and pedigree to bounce back. However, the 2025 season has shown us that no name is bigger than performance, and with the depth of talent in India, competition is fierce.

I believe KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav still have a lot to offer but need to reinvent their game to stay relevant. For Shreyas Iyer, it might be time to go back to domestic cricket and work on his technical flaws. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan, both young and promising, must prioritize consistency over flashy moments if they want long-term success.

As a fan, it’s disappointing to see them struggle, but this also opens the door for newer players to shine. With the T20 World Cup and other key tournaments coming up, the selectors will be forced to make tough decisions. The question remains — who will fight back and reclaim their place in 2026?

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