As Ajinkya Rahane recently sat down to pick his all-time Test XI based on the players he shared a dressing room with, quite a few surprises unfolded. Over the years, Rahane spent a lot of time out in the middle, playing alongside cricketers from different eras. From learning how to construct an innings from Sachin Tendulkar to becoming a reliable red-ball anchor alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, Rahane witnessed the gradual transition of India’s Test team over the last two decades. However, when Rahane revealed his XI, the absence of two iconic names — Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah — left fans in complete disbelief.
For most cricket fans, it feels almost impossible to imagine a modern Indian Test side without the aggressive energy of Virat Kohli or the lethal pace of Jasprit Bumrah. Kohli was the driving force behind India’s Test resurgence, instilling a ruthless winning attitude overseas, while Bumrah has established himself as arguably the finest fast bowler India has ever produced across formats.Highlights Missing
Rahane’s choices appear to be strictly role-based. Sachin Tendulkar occupies the number four position, which effectively squeezed Kohli out of the batting order. While that explanation offers some context for Kohli’s exclusion, leaving out Bumrah was an even bigger shock for supporters.
In his selections, Rahane leaned heavily on nostalgic bonds and shared experiences from his formative years. His top order pays tribute to his early domestic roots and the mentors who guided him early on. Even so, leaving out Kohli, with whom he shared several iconic partnership triumphs, and Bumrah naturally sparked debates across social media.
The rest of the lineup feels grounded and familiar. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan take up the opening spots, honoring a pair that blunted new balls together in tough overseas series during the mid-2010s. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar add unmatched stability at numbers three and four, with Rahane slotting himself in at number five.
MS Dhoni takes the wicketkeeping gloves and the captain’s armband. Although Dhoni’s record in Test cricket was often overshadowed by his white-ball heroics, his spot in this side reflects the deep respect Rahane holds for his calm leadership.
To finish the XI, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin form the spin attack, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma make up a fast-bowling trio that built India’s reputation for taking twenty wickets anywhere in the world. Could Bumrah have been a part off the bowling trio? Many would say yes.
