Aakash Chopra did not give place to these players in his all-time XI
Former Indian batsman and famous commentator Aakash Chopra selected his all-time Test XI, in which he did not include many legendary players. He chose Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag as openers. Gavaskar was famous for his unmatched technique and patience, while Sehwag troubled the opposition teams with his explosive batting.
Middle order: Dravid, Tendulkar and Kohli
Akash placed Rahul Dravid, popularly known as ‘The Wall’, at number three. At the fourth position, he chose the great batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record of most runs (15,921) and 51 centuries in Test cricket. Virat Kohli was placed at the fifth position. Aakash said, “There was an idea to keep Kohli at number four, but it is impossible to keep him ahead of Sachin. VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly were also contenders for this position, but Kohli is the right one for this number.”
Wicketkeeper: Rishabh Pant has an edge over Dhoni
Akash preferred young Rishabh Pant over MS Dhoni as wicketkeeper. He said on Instagram, “Earlier Dhoni would have been at this position, but now Pant is India’s best Test wicketkeeper. He will be at number six in my team.” Pant recently created the record for the wicketkeeper with most Test centuries for India, with 8 centuries and 3,200 runs in 44 Tests, while Dhoni has 6 centuries and 4,876 runs in 90 Tests.
All-rounders and bowling attack
At number seven, Aakash picked legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, who took 434 wickets and scored 5,248 runs in Test cricket. For spin bowling, he placed Ravichandran Ashwin at eighth and Anil Kumble at ninth, both of whom have a great record of winning matches. Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan were included in the fast bowling attack.
Aakash Chopra’s All Time India Test XI: Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Kapil Dev, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Zaheer Khan
FAQ
What is this article about?
The article discusses a former cricket player’s selection of India’s all-time best Test XI, notably excluding famous players like Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Sourav Ganguly.
Who is the former player making this selection?
The name of the former player who chose the all-time Test XI is usually mentioned in the article. It could be a former Indian cricketer or an expert commentator.
Why were popular players like Dhoni, Rohit, and Ganguly left out?
The former player likely chose the XI based on personal opinions, specific criteria like Test performance, and team balance, which led to the exclusion of some well-known names.
Which players were included in this all-time Test XI?
The full list of players chosen as the best in Indian Test cricket history will be detailed in the article.
Is this all-time Test XI widely accepted by fans and experts?
Selections like this often spark debate and may not be agreed upon by everyone since cricket fans have varied opinions.