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The margin for error is very less in T20Is and due to its short version most often the quality of two sides can narrow down. A few good overs or a few batters going berserk can change the outcome of the game. The unpredictable nature of T20 is why fans find it fascinating. In 2025 we saw plenty of games go down to the wire and in this article we list down the Best T20I matches of 2025.
1. India vs Sri Lanka ( Asia Cup, Super Four match)
This has to go down as the best T20I match of 2025. India were put into bat first and they scored the tournament’s first 200-plus total riding opener Abhishek Sharma’s third consecutive fifty in the tournament. Abhishek, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, continued his form with a sizzling 61 off 31balls which helped India post a good total.
In reply, Sri Lanka started with a bang with Kusal Perera and Nissanka getting a great start in the powerplay. Sri Lanka were even favourites at one stage but India pulled back things very well as Sri Lanka managed to equal India’s score of 202 and force the Super Over on the back of Nissanka who smashed a century.
Sri Lankan batters could not do well in the super over and managed only two runs in the Super Over before losing both the wickets in five deliveries from Arshdeep Singh. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav took three runs from the first delivery from Wanindu Hasaranga to seal a dramatic match and India won the cliff hanger.
2. Australia vs South Africa, 3rd T20I
It was the series decider and proved to be a masterclass. After being put in to bat, South Africa overcame a top-order wobble to post a competitive 172 for seven with Dewald Brevis top-scoring with 53. It looked a par total at the halfway mark.
Australia started really well with Mitch Marsh getting off to a great start. But the Proteas bowlers responded with a four-over burst of 4-22 to go ahead in the game. Maxwell was the last recognised batter with 51 runs required from the last six overs, which forced Maxwell to turn down singles to shield the lower order.
Maxwell stood tall and scored a terrific half century in a tense chase to help the hosts edge out South Africa by two wickets in the third and final T20 international in Cairns on Saturday. Maxwell’s unbeaten 62 off 36 balls included eight fours and two sixes which helped Australia chase down 173 with one ball to spare at the Cazalys Stadium, completing a 2-1 series victory in style.
3. India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup Final
It was the third meeting in the Asia Cup for arch rivals India and Pakistan., Pakistan batting first, started their innings strongly as Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman gave them an opening stand of 84 before Farhan was dismissed for 57 off 38 in the 10th over. Indian bowlers made a terrific comeback as Pakistan collapsed from from 113-2 to 146 all out in 38 balls as they finished their innings in 19.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India.
The run chase for India was dented in the second over when the tournament’s leading run scorer, Abhishek, was dismissed for five runs by Faheem Ashraf on the first ball of India’s second over. He was caught at mid-on. Suryakumar followed soon after when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him for one run as the Indian captain hit his fifth ball straight to mid off where Salman Agha took a diving catch.
Tilak Varma joined opener Gill to steady the ship for India, but Gill departed nine balls later to Ashraf. Wicketkeeper Sanju Samson chipped in with an innings of 24 off 21 before falling to Abrar Ahmed. Tilak Varma has held his nerve with an unbeaten innings of 69 runs as he has steered India home in a five-wicket win over Pakistan in a controversial final of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. Coming in to bat with India two wickets down for 10 runs in the third over, Varma weathered the storm while wickets fell at the other end and later played the big shots as India chased down 147 and he was the player of the match.
