India’s All-Time Test XI


Making imaginary teams has been my favourite pastime. Right from my childhood days I have been doing this. I first made an All Time India Test XI in the mid-80’s when I had just joined college. 


Here’s that team: 


Sunil Gavaskar

Vijay Merchant

Vijay Hazare

G R Vishwanath

MAK Pataudi - captain

Vinoo Mankad

Kapil Dev

Syed Kirmani - wicket keeper

E A S Prasanna

Mohammad Nissar

Subhash Gupte

12th man Eknath Solkar


During my current vacation, I flipped through my old diaries and found 2 more All Time India XIs. I found that only 4 names were common in all the three All Time India XIs. They were Gavaskar, Mankad, Kapil and Gupte. 


I decided to make another All Time India XI because lot of great players have emerged in the last decade. I also wanted to see if Gavaskar, Mankad, Kapil and Gupte would still make it in the final team. I wasn’t surprised that they made it. Class is permanent. 


Here’s the latest All Time India XI:


Sunil Gavaskar – a fine opening batsman. He had class, calibre and guts. For many years he single-handedly carried the burden of India’s batting. Whatever the situation India was in, if he was at the crease there was hope. 


Virender Sehwag – a dasher, a blaster. He would make a perfect foil to Gavaskar’s patience.


Rahul Dravid: The Great Wall of India. Dravid will provide comfort and peace to the team.


Sachin Tendulkar: Master. Hero. Legend.


Virat Kohli: Very soon he will be labelled as India’s best batsman. Amazing player. 


Vinoo Mankad: One of India’s finest all-rounders. Dependable with the bat. Magician with the ball.


M S Dhoni: Knows the game better than anyone else. Master tactician. Fine wicketkeeper. These qualities are enough to include him in the side. Add his batting prowess and the man becomes indispensable. 


Kapil Dev: He made every Indian proud whether batting or bowling or fielding. In 1983 when he lifted the World Cup, he carved a permanent place for himself in every Indian’s heart.


Anil Kumble: Tough. Unflappable. Indefatigable. Fighter. Good cricketing mind. Great bowler.


Jasprit Bumrah: Srinath and Zaheer Khan crossed my mind because Bumrah is still new but he has displayed enough potential to stake his claim and I am sure in the long run no one will be near him. He would have outclassed everyone.


Subash Gupte: India’s finest leg-spinner. On his day he was unplayable. 


12th man: Azharuddin, Ravindra Jadeja or Eknath Solkar (they are three of India’s best fielders). I will opt for Azharuddin. 


Dhoni will lead the side and Kohli will be his deputy.


-          NZ

28.12.2019

BN: 218

-            

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