Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, recently revealed his all-time India XI, making some surprising choices that left out a few of the finest players in Indian cricket history. In a chat with Sportskeeda, Gambhir had to make tough decisions as he selected just eleven players, resulting in the exclusion of some big names, including current ODI captain Rohit Sharma and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, which raised eyebrows among fans.
Gambhir chose himself and Virender Sehwag as the opening pair, notably omitting Rohit Sharma, who is widely regarded as one of the best openers in cricket. At the No. 3 spot, Gambhir included Rahul Dravid, the player whom he recently replaced as India’s head coach. Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar, often considered the greatest cricketer of all time, took the No. 4 position, followed by modern-day great Virat Kohli at No. 5. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni were selected at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively, with Dhoni also taking on the role of wicketkeeper.
Gambhir’s choices in the batting lineup meant that other notable cricketers like Sourav Ganguly were left out. In the spin department, Anil Kumble was picked at No. 8, and Ravichandran Ashwin was chosen at No. 9. The exclusion of Harbhajan Singh, another prominent spinner, was also a notable decision. For the pace bowling unit, Gambhir opted for Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan, surprisingly leaving out Jasprit Bumrah, who is often considered one of India’s finest fast bowlers and has been referred to as the ‘Kohinoor’ of Indian cricket.
Gambhir is known for his candid and bold opinions in the cricketing world, and his selection reflects that mindset. His choices reflect his own cricketing philosophy and personal experiences on the field, prioritizing players who he felt made significant impacts during their careers. However, the omission of contemporary stars like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah was unexpected, sparking debates among fans and experts.
Gambhir’s all-time India XI consists of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir as openers, followed by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, and MS Dhoni as the wicketkeeper. Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin were selected as the spinners, with Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan comprising the pace attack. Despite the backlash from some quarters, Gambhir’s team represents his perspective on the most impactful players in Indian cricket history.
Fans continue to dissect and discuss his selections, particularly the notable exclusions, highlighting how difficult it is to condense decades of cricketing talent into just eleven spots.
