Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer and current head coach, has unveiled his all-time India XI, a lineup that has sparked considerable discussion among cricket fans. In a surprising move, Gambhir excluded modern greats Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah from his selection, opting instead for a team composed of players from earlier eras.
Gautam Gambhir’s all-Time India XI
In a video released on Sportskeeda’s YouTube channel, Gambhir named himself alongside Virender Sehwag as the opening pair. The middle order featured legendary players Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, forming a formidable batting lineup.
The omission of Rohit, who has been a prolific run-scorer for India in limited-overs cricket, came as a surprise to many. Similarly, the absence of Bumrah, regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the world, raised eyebrows. Gambhir’s selections appear to reflect a preference for players he has personally played alongside during his career, leading to the exclusion of these modern stars.
The complete XI is as follows:
- Virender Sehwag
- Gautam Gambhir
- Rahul Dravid
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virat Kohli
- Yuvraj Singh
- MS Dhoni (c, wk)
- Anil Kumble
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Irfan Pathan
- Zaheer Khan
Gambhir’s perspective
Gambhir’s choices highlight a blend of aggression and stability, with players known for their match-winning abilities in crucial situations. He emphasized the importance of experience and performance in high-pressure scenarios, particularly in World Cup settings, where many of these players have excelled.
As the cricket community digests Gambhir’s selections, discussions are likely to continue regarding the criteria for an all-time great XI, especially as new talents emerge in Indian cricket.
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Gambhir’s record for India in international cricket
Gambhir embarked on his international journey in April 2003, making his ODI debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Throughout his illustrious career, he represented India in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is.
Gambhir’s contributions were instrumental in India’s victories in major tournaments. He emerged as the leading run-scorer for India in the 2007 T20 World Cup, culminating in a match-winning performance in the final against Pakistan. Similarly, in the 2011 ODI World Cup, he played a crucial role, top-scoring for India in the final against Sri Lanka.
His exceptional batting prowess also earned him a top spot in the ICC Test batter’s ranking. Moreover, Gambhir’s leadership skills were evident as he captained India in six ODIs, achieving a clean sweep of victory against New Zealand.
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