Robin Uthappa Unveils All-Time India Test XI Ahead of Sri Lanka Series
Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has revealed his personal all-time India Test XI on his Instagram account. The selection comes ahead of India’s upcoming two-match away Test series against Sri Lanka, featuring notable inclusions alongside several high-profile omissions.
What Happened
In a video shared on Instagram, Uthappa outlined his dream lineup for India in the longest format of the game. For the opening positions, he picked Virender Sehwag to partner current Indian vice-captain KL Rahul, leaving out legendary openers Sunil Gavaskar and Gautam Gambhir. In the top and middle order, Rahul Dravid was chosen at number three, followed by Sachin Tendulkar at four and Virat Kohli at five.
For the wicketkeeping slot, Uthappa selected former captain MS Dhoni, omitting Rishabh Pant. India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev was slotted in at number seven as the premier seam-bowling all-rounder. The bowling unit comprises spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Anil Kumble, alongside fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan. In making these picks, Ashwin was preferred over Harbhajan Singh, while Bumrah was selected ahead of Mohammed Shami.
Key Highlights
- Opening Pair: Virender Sehwag and KL Rahul were chosen at the top, leaving out Sunil Gavaskar and Gautam Gambhir.
- Middle Order: Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli take positions three, four, and five, which ruled out Cheteshwar Pujara and Sourav Ganguly.
- Wicketkeeper & All-Rounder: MS Dhoni was named as the designated wicketkeeper ahead of Rishabh Pant, with Kapil Dev taking the all-rounder spot at number seven.
- Bowling Lineup: The bowling attack features Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, and Zaheer Khan, leaving out Harbhajan Singh and Mohammed Shami.
- Full XI: Virender Sehwag, KL Rahul, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (wk), Kapil Dev, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble.
Why This Matters
The selection highlights personal perspectives on team balance from a former international player. Uthappa’s choices reflect a trend of bold omissions in his team selections, reminiscent of his previous all-time India ODI XI selection where Rohit Sharma was excluded.
What to Watch Next
India is set to contest a two-match away Test series against Sri Lanka, with the first Test scheduled to commence on August 15 at Galle International Stadium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who opened the batting in Robin Uthappa’s all-time India Test XI?
Virender Sehwag and KL Rahul were selected as the two opening batters.
Which notable players were omitted from the team?
Prominent omissions include Sunil Gavaskar, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sourav Ganguly, Rishabh Pant, Harbhajan Singh, and Mohammed Shami.
Who was picked as the wicketkeeper?
MS Dhoni was chosen as the wicketkeeper for the eleven.
Source: Crictracker