Compiling an all-time XI is never the most straightforward of tasks, especially for a country which has a rich cricket history like India.
As such, we have enlisted the help of our social media followers to help to arrive at the final XI names. More than 30 Indian players were taken into consideration in total as we threw open the voting floor.
Follow our Instagram account to get more involved as we try to compile all-time Test XIs for the major cricketing nations in the worlds.
Here is the all-time India Test XI based on the choices of our followers, along with the choices considered.
PLAYERS CONSIDERED
Openers: Sunil Gavaskar, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Navjot Singh Sidhu
Middle-order (3-6): Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Polly Umrigar, Mohinder Amarnath, Gundappa Viswanath, VVS Laxman, Dilip Vengsarkar, Virat Kohli, Vijay Hazare, Mohammad Azharuddin
Wicketkeeper: Kiran More, Farokh Engineer, MS Dhoni, Syed Kirmani
Spinners: Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vinoo Mankad, Ravindra Jadeja
Pacers: Kapil Dev, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Mohammed Shami
FINAL XI
Sunil Gavaskar – Opener
Arguably the greatest Test opener of all time, Gavaskar selection in this XI is a mere formality. Armed with the most resolute of techniques, the ‘Little Blaster’ broke every record in front of him in an illustrious career comprising of 125 Test appearances.
He was the first man in history to breach the 10,000-run barrier in Test cricket and his record of 34 tons stood for over two decades. His batting average of over 65 against what was then an all-conquering West Indies side was testament to his greatness.
Virender Sehwag – Opener
Despite having an aggressive and adventurous approach that seemed more suited to the limited-overs formats, Sehwag’s best for India came in the Test whites. With minimal footwork, Sehwag made the hard job of opening the innings look easy as he marauded his way to 8,569 Test runs at an average of nearly 50.
One of only four batsmen in history to register two triple Test tons, Sehwag had a knack of playing the big innings once he got settled in at the crease. His staggering career batting strike-rate of 82.23 speaks volumes of his ability to dismantle bowling attacks.
Rahul Dravid – Middle Order
Befittingly given the nickname of the ‘Wall’, Dravid was a classical batsman of the old-school era who simply loved to bat, and bat. While India at the time had a legendary batting unit at their disposal, Dravid still managed to stamp his own authority with his orthodox technique and buckets of patience.
He was a man who could thrive in all conditions and was adept at handling both pace and spin. With 36 Test tons and 13,288 runs, Dravid scripted an enviable international career littered with several defining knocks.
Sachin Tendulkar – Middle Order
The ‘Master Blaster’ has a valid claim to being the greatest batsman of all time after stitching together a stellar career which spanned nearly 24 years. Having long been hailed as the successor to Gavaskar, Tendulkar left the fellow Mumbai legend’s records in his wake as he established a legacy of his own.
A record of 200 appearances, nearly 16,000 runs and a whopping 51 centuries was just the tip of Tendulkar’s greatness which superseded all that came before him. That Sir Don Bradman was reminded of his own batting after watching Tendulkar in action says everything about the India superstar’s mastery with the bat.
Virat Kohli (Captain) – Middle Order
Still only 31, Kohli has already confirmed his credentials as India’s most successful Test captain. He was the man tipped to fill Tendulkar’s huge boots for India and he hasn’t disappointed at all in that regard.
With an almost identical Test batting average to Tendulkar, Kohli has amassed 27 tons in just 145 innings. Only Bradman, Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara have more Test double tons to their names than Kohli who has registered six of them. His excellent record as skipper, and the fact that he oversaw India’s maiden Test series win on Australian soil sees him earn the captaincy hat for this XI.
VVS Laxman – Middle Order
Laxman’s artistry with the bat was confirmed when his marathon innings of 281 at the Eden Gardens pulled off the most sensational of victories for India against Steve Waugh’s world-beating Australia side.
Since that famed knock in 2001, Laxman would go on torment the Australians several times over the course of a memorable Test career. With the most elegant of wrist-works, the right-hander accumulated nearly 9,000 Test runs while also helping himself to 17 centuries. He was a central pillar for India at a time when they boasted of arguably the strongest batting unit in their history.
MS Dhoni – Wicketkeeper
India haven’t exactly been blessed with the best wicketkeeping talents through history, although MS Dhoni still manages to stand head and shoulders above the competition. The former India skipper collected nearly 5,000 runs at a healthy average of 38.09 and was more than handy behind the stumps with a total of 294 Test dismissals.
A man who could provide some quick runs down the order for India, Dhoni also led the team to the No1 ranking in the Test format in 2011.
Kapil Dev – Pacer/All-rounder
The only all-rounder in history to do the double of 5,000 runs and 400 wickets, Kapil Dev is a name synonymous with Indian cricket. Captain of the team which clinched India’s maiden World Cup title in 1983, the all-rounder also enjoyed considerable success in a Test career spanning 16 years.
While his contributions, especially with the bat, tailed off in the latter half of his career, Dev is still one of the greatest cricketers to emerge from India. A proficient seam bowler and a stylish batsman, he bowed out of game with batting and bowling average of 31.05 and 29.64 respectively. At the time of his retirement, his 434 Test scalps was the most by any bowler in history.
Anil Kumble – Spinner
With 619 Test wickets to his name, Anil Kumble is by far the most successful Test bowler India has ever produced. There were several high points in the leg-spinner’s career but none was greater than his feat of claiming all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999.
While he might have been billed as a leg-spinner, Kumble’s effectiveness was derived from the pace and bounce he generated with the ball. Not the greatest of turners by any means, Kumble’s lethal googly and the impeccable lines and lengths he maintained made him an adversary no batsman loved to face. He was particularly effective in India where he claimed 350 wickets at an average just shy of 25.
Ravichandran Ashwin – Spinner
Although India have been blessed with several formidable spinners in the past, Ravichandran Ashwin still manages to stand out. Despite making his initial breakthrough to the Indian team as somewhat of a T20 specialist, Ashwin’s willingness to learn and adapt has seen him blossom into one of the finest off-spinners in the business.
The Chennai man has been a big driving force behind the current Indian team’s rise to the top of the Test rankings with 365 wickets collected at an average of 25.43. He is more than handy with the bat as well, and has registered four tons and 11 half-centuries down the order.
Zaheer Khan – Pacer
India are currently witnessing a golden period with regards to their fast bowling talent pool, although the same cannot be said for a large part of their history. At a time when India were struggling in their fast bowling department, Zaheer Khan was a breath of fresh air with his left-armed variety.
He wasn’t the most consistent with the red-ball in the early parts of his career, but county stints in England saw Khan flourish into a formidable seamer over time. With the ability to swing the new ball and reverse swing the older ball, the Mumbai bowler delivered several match-winning displays for India including a prolific tour of England in 2007.
