The Indian team has witnessed the rise of many cricketers, who have displayed a lot of skill and calibre when it comes to playing all formats of the game. While there are many players who feature regularly in all 3 formats, some have specialised in holding their position in the side for one format, and honing the skills required to excel in the same.
I sat and wondered about a hypothetical scenario where the Indian team was forced to play a game each of all 3 formats, on the same day! While the practicality of the matter is more on the wrong end of things, I decided to make an analysis anyway. I didn’t include MS Dhoni in any of the sides, as he is on a self-imposed hiatus, and Indian cricket fans may have to get used to life without him (more on that topic some other day!). The simplest condition is that there shouldn’t be any player included in both lists. It was increasingly difficult to do so, since India is filled with players who are regulars in more than 1 format. So here is my XI of players.
Test XI :-
Mayank Agarwal
Opening the batting for the test side will be Mayank Agarwal. It was a fairly simple selection, since he doesn’t play much cricket outside this format. He has made the opening position his own, scoring important runs for his side on many occasions. He heavily impressed in domestic cricket, being he leading run-scorer in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy, and 2017-18 Vijay Hazare trophy. As it stands, Agarwal averages 67.07 in the 8 tests he has played, having made six 50+ scores, three 100+ scores and two double centuries. A lot more can be expected from this bright, young talent, and the whole of India looks forward to witnessing it
Prithvi Shaw
In my side, Shaw opens the batting with Agarwal, and he has earned this position. He has been the rising superstar of Indian cricket. He first shot to limelight when, in November 2013, he set the highest score by any batsman in any organised form of cricket since 1901, when he hit 546 in a Harris Shield elite division match. He also captained the Under-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2019, and earned a Test call up in the process. He is often viewed as a successor for Tendulkar, making many milestones that the Little Master made himself. We have a lot more to see from Shaw, and I know he will show us all just that.
Cheteshwar Pujara
In my opinion, the best asset the Indian Test side has, Pujara is a cricketer born and bred for this format of the game. He has been a mainstay in the Indian Test cricket side, making the No.3 position his own. His patience and endurance had been a major asset for his side, and he has shown a massive capability of tiring the opposition bowlers and batting them into oblivion. To give an example, he faced 1,258 balls in the entire Australia tour in 2018-29 tour, breaking a record held by “the wall” Rahul Dravid himself. He is the best Test batsman in the side, and he walks in to this side with the same ease with which he bats!
Ajinkya Rahane (c)
Captaining the side is the current Test vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane. He usually plays one position lower, but at the moment, he occupies the position left vacant by his captain, Virat Kohli (more on him in a moment). Another player born to play test cricket, Rahane’s style of cricket is characterized by his patience, calm and classical selection of shots. His captaincy has also been largely successful. He has 33 scores above 50, hitting 11 centuries as well. His selection in the test side is a big no-brainer!
Hanuma Vihari
Yet another player who has turned into a regular in the current Test side, Vihari is a handy all-rounder to have by your side. He finds himself pushed up the order, to satisfy the requirements of the side. He is a good batsman, having scored a century and 3 half-centuries in the 6 tests he has played. He has also picked up 5 wickets with his off-break bowling. Fine player indeed!
Ravindra Jadeja
I have to admit, Jadeja was a source of some conflict, with him being a regular for the ODI and T20i side as well. In the end, I decided that he was too important to the stability of the Test side to leave him out of the 11. A handy addition with the bat, he is mainly picked as a bowler, who has been phenomenal with his performances in the side. 213 wickets at a bowling average of 24.62 make for excellent stats. His exploits with the bat also offer a lot of batting stability in this side.
Wriddhiman Saha (wk)
One of the finest wicketkeepers in the game, Saha can make it to any side purely on his wicketkeeping ability, but he is also a relatively good batsman. Since Dhoni’s retirement, he is the one who has played most matches as the Indian wicketkeeper, scoring 3 centuries, mostly in the No.7 position. He also has 92 catches and 11 stumpings from 32 tests, which is a fantastic record. A good talent to have at the No.7 position.
Ravichandran Ashwin
The second half of India’s famed spin-twins in Test cricket, Ashwin is another Test cricket specialist, who hasn’t featured in any other format in a while. He has been a revelation in Test cricket, and is an invaluable member of the Test unit, picking up 362 wickets at an average of 25.36. In addition, he also has 4 Test centuries, and has proved himself to be a good batsman to have in your Test side. Another simple selection.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami is also part of the ODI unit, impressing most recently in the 2019 World Cup. But the rise of young pacers in limited-overs cricket has meant that he is more important to the Test side at the moment. He is a reverse-swing specialist, who has also displayed the ability to consistently bowl at speeds close to 145 kmph, making him a dangerously potent pace bowler. He forms 1 part of the pace triplets in this Test side.
Umesh Yadav
Off-late, Umesh Yadav has moulded himself into a pure Test bowler, making him another easy draft for the side. He is also the fastest bowler in the Indian squad, bowling at speeds in excess of 150 kmph. Yadav is fit, strong, quick, and gets the ball to swing late. More importantly, he attacks the stumps and doesn’t wait for edges, which makes his style vastly different from the other bowlers on this list. The fiery pacer also holds the record for the highest batting strike-rate in a Test match, breaking a 15-year-old record. Again, another straightforward selection.
Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is a hard-working cricketer. He has been in and out of the side, but for a few years now, he has managed to hold his place in the Test side. While being a “rhythm” bowler, he still is considered one of the fastest Indian bowlers having bowled in excess of 150 km/h on several occasions in international cricket. What sets him apart is his height. At 6 ft 4′, he is one of the tallest cricketers in International cricket, and he has used that to his advantage in his bowling. He is a trustworthy addition to the Test bowling unit.
ODI XI :-
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is a player who plays all 3 formats, and is a big asset to both limited-overs side. But considering the fact that there are a lot of young, rising stars to handle the T20 side, and that Sharma is too important to the ODI side, he takes guard as our first opener. Recently, he has been crowned the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year of last year. He holds the record for the highest ever individual ODI score, and holds the distinction for being the only player to hit more than 1 ODI double century (3). His explosive performances in the 2019 World Cup only goes to show how good an ODI player he is.
Shikhar Dhawan
Sharma’s partner-in-crime, and fellow opener since 2013, Dhawan has been a part of all 3 sides, but has failed to replicate the performances he delivers for the ODI side. Hence, this selection is an easy one. The flamboyant left-hander has lit up the side since his arrival onto the scene, and has established himself as an irreplaceable member of the ODI squad. He may not be talked about like his partners Sharma and Virat Kohli, but he deserves every bit of praise he gets. His performances in the Champions Trophy 2013 and 2017 are just examples of how good he is.
Virat Kohli (c)
The star of Indian cricket himself. Kohli is the best batsman India has. He is the top-ranked Indian batsman in both Test and ODIs, and he is the highest run-getter for India in T20i. He is also the only batsman to average above 50 in all 3 formats, making him a prized asset for all 3 sides. But the No.1 batsman in ODI cricket cannot belong anywhere else! He plays all formats well, but Kohli looks most in his element when he is playing at No.3 in this format. He averages 59.34 (a record by far), has scored 11,867 runs, and has 43 centuries (2nd highest overall) to his name. He is a once-in-a-generation player, and we need to enjoy his exploits as he approaches the twilight of his career.
Shreyas Iyer
The No.4 position in ODIs has caused major problems to the team management and fans. The lack of batsman capable of batting in this position is what cost India a World Cup trophy last year. Since the World Cup, however, India has found a solid choice to fill the gap, in the form of Shreyas Iyer. He has made valuable contributions to the side playing in that position, since he stated playing in this spot. In August 2019,he scored 71 and 63 against West Indies in 2nd and 3rd ODI whereas 1st ODI was abandoned because of rain. He was the second-highest run-getter in the series. He also played well in the West Indies ODI series in November 2019, and New Zealand ODI series in February 2020.
K.L Rahul (wk)
Another player to sizzle for the ODI side, K.L Rahul has batted well in this position in ODI cricket, having scored a lot of valuable runs for the side He has also shown a lot of prowess playing in No.4 and opening positions, but he has nailed down this spot in the batting line-up off-late. He may be a better asset in the T20 side, but the emergence of capable youngsters, and the lack of a wicket-keeper in the ODI side meant that Rahul makes his way into this side. Often playing classical cricket, he has shown the ability to shift gears and play innovative and explosive shots to make quick runs, meaning that he can both anchor the innings, and score at a big strike-rate, making him a good No.5 batsman.
Kedar Jadhav
Walking in at No.6 is Kedar Jadhav. The right-hander has proved himself a fine batsman, with the ability to play a crucial innings at times. In addition, he also bowls right-arm off-spin with a round-arm action, which can often be deceptive. He has bowled 4-5 overs for his side, as and when it has been found necessary. His batting highlights include a brisk 120 off 76 balls and shared a 200 run partnership with captain Virat Kohli to help India to register a win against England in his home ground. His performances in that series earned him a Player of the Series award, as he showed the world what he is capable of. On his day, he is an awesome batsman to have play for your side.
Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya hasn’t yet debuted for the ODI side, but he is the closest replacement to Jadeja that we have at our disposal, and he has shown that he is more than ready to take up the mantle. His orthodox slow-left-arm bowling can be very deceptive, and on a slow track, he can easily manipulate batsman into attacking him and losing their wicket. As a batsman, he has an explosive style of batting, and can accelerate towards the business end of the innings. If you are in need for quick runs, he can deliver them, much like his younger brother. Sharing the ball with right-arm off-spinner Kedar Jadhav can be a good option for India, especially since it can do a world of good for the side’s bowling variety.
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has always been a superstar bowler for India. His swinging ability is unmatched by any other Indian bowler. Having the ability to swing the new ball both ways, he has been pivotal in containing the runs and picking up wickets, especially in the power-play. He partners with any deck bowler India has, to provide amazing variety to the attack. He is especially adept at creating late swing on the ball, deceiving the batsman effectively. He is also a handy lower-order batsman, with an ODI high-score of 53*. He plays all formats of the game, but the fact that the Test team already has mainstay bowlers, and that the ODI side could use a genuine swing bowler, made me pick Bhuvi as one of the bowlers.
Navdeep Saini
Navdeep Saini has heavily impressed Indian fans, exhibiting the ability to consistently bowl at speeds of around 150 kmph. He made his debut as recently as December 2019, but his performances promise a lot more to come. The youngster has shown that he is capable of bowling a good line and length, and is an adept bowler with the new ball as well as at the death. His versatility makes him a quality addition to the Indian pace bowling unit, and he is on his way to becoming a fine cricketer.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The leggie has impressed Indian fans with his good performances ever since he burst into the scene. Now, he is an irreplaceable member of the Indian bowling unit, especially in the limited overs. He is most used in the T20 side, but certain factors (more on that later) led me to conclude that he is better used in the ODI set-up. He ended up as India’s 3rd highest wicket-taker in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, with 12 wickets. His variations as a wrist-spinner has been very effective in picking up wickets when his side needs them. Here’s hoping Chahal keeps up the good work!
Jasprit Bumrah
Ah, Jasprit Bumrah! Words aren’t enough to describe this man. He is, at the moment of writing, the most important and irreplaceable bowler at India’s disposal. When he first burst into the international scene, he was characterised for a weird bowling action. But that action has proved to be the source of some excellent bowling displays. He has everything; from pace to line and length, from deceptive slow balls to toe-crushing yorkers, he has mastered the art of slowing down the opposition run-rate and picking up wickets at regular intervals. He is currently the number 1 ODI bowler, and he has thoroughly deserved the acclaim. He ended his World Cup campaign as the highest wicket-taker for India, striking at an average of 20.61 and boasting an amazing economy rate of 4.42. He has a career economy of 4.55, having played 63 ODIs, which make for fantastic readings. He plays excellent cricket in all formats, but I felt that the highest-ranked ODI bowler deserves to play in this format.
T20 XI :-
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav has yet to make his international debut, but if his domestic performances are any indication, he has more than just earned his place in the side. He used to play as a finisher for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, but since he made the switch to Mumbai Indians, and subsequently to the position of opener, he has been nothing short of a revelation. He scored 512 runs for his side in the 2018 IPL season, striking at 133.33, and finishing as the top scorer from his side. It is criminal that he hasn’t been given an opportunity to play for the Indian side, but I feel like he has proved himself worthy enough to be given this responsibility for this team.
Shubhman Gill
One of the break-out stars from the side that won the under -19 World Cup in 2018, Shubhman Gill has played superbly well for the Kolkata Knight Riders outfit ever since he was bought during the auction. Since he made the switch to opener, he has made effective contributions to his side. Yet to make his T20i debut, he has been in contention to break into the side ever since the under-19 tournament ended. His batting style is mostly classical, but he has shown that he is very capable of accelerating when he is required to do so. In the IPL, he has a career strike rate of 132.36, showcasing his ability to hit a mean ball! He is the future of Indian cricket, and one hell of a cricketer.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson has been one of the rising stars to impress in IPLs. Since 2013, he has been a consistent performer for his side, scoring 2 hundreds in a stellar domestic career. A batsman of pure class and quality, the Kerala lad is somebody I rate very highly. He hasn’t quite nailed down his place in the side, but he is a very capable young man who deserves an opportunity to shine. Couple that ability with his awesome fielding prowess and we have got ourselves a very good cricketer for our T20i side. I personally hope that Samson gets a good opportunity to become an established international player.
Rishabh Pant (wk)
You will soon find out that this side isn’t running short of wicket-keeping options! Rishabh Pant is an explosive batsman, who attacks the ball right from the word go. His approach has T20 written all over it, making this choice an absolute no-brainer. His career T20 strike-rate of 156.34 only goes to show his hard-hitting technique. His style mostly relies on hand-eye coordination, which is one of the key aspects to succeed in this format of the game. He has been a superstar for the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the IPL, and has largely contributed to their recent success. Expect some fearsome performances with Pant now becoming a regular for the Indian side.
Dinesh Karthik (c)
Dinesh Karthik is one of the most unlucky cricketers India has. He shot to the limelight way back in 2003, but the rise to prominence of a certain wicket-keeper batsman from Ranchi meant that Karthik was forced to play second-fiddle for most of his career. He is somebody with a lot of skill and potential, but he has failed to show it when it was needed the most. He managed to turn it around in recent times, improving his attitude and form under the tutelage of Abhishek Nayar. One only needs to look at his match-winning innings in the Nidahas trophy to understand what he brings to the table. His fine captaincy record with KKR in the IPL makes him the captain of this side, in the absence of Kohli and Sharma.
Hardik Pandya
The younger Pandya brother has been India’s go-to pace-bowling all-rounder for a while now, and he has not failed to impress. He has played many match-winning and match-saving innings throughout his career. He is an invaluable member of all the Indian sides, but I feel like he serves his best utility as a T20 player. His most recent performance in DY Patil T20 World Cup, wherein he smashed 105 off just 39 balls with the bat and took 5 wickets with the ball, is only one example out of the many blistering knocks he is capable of playing in this format. He is one of the most utilitarian players that India currently has.
Washington Sundar
Occupying another all-rounder spot is this young talent, who has been a regular for India’s T20 side. He is an orthodox right-arm off-spinner, who balls well in the powerplay overs with the new ball. His height gives him the advantage to bowl the flighted deliveries, and his technique relies more on acing the line and length, without generating much spin on the ball. He hasn’t quite impressed with the bat, but his domestic performances will tell you that he is more than capable of guiding his team over the line when he is required to do so. He is the only finger-spinner in this side, and that fact provides a lot of variety to this bowling attack. Still very young, he has all the potential to improve and nail down his spot in the side. Let us hope that he takes his opportunities well.
Shreyas Gopal
He is billed as an all-rounder, but he will walk into this side even as a pure bowler. Shreyas Gopal is yet to make his international debut, but he has more than just earned it with his stellar domestic performances. In the IPL, he has been a consistent performer for the Rajasthan Royals, taking 20 wickets, at a stellar average of 17.35, in the 2019 season alone. His most notable spell came in the 2018 edition of the tournament, where he spun a web around the explosive RCB batting line-up, ending with figures of 4/16, among them the wickets of AB de Villiers, Moeen Ali and Parthiv Patel. The right-arm leggie has very effective variations and can trap any batsman on his day.
Deepak Chahar
The right-arm pacer shot to fame with his performances in the IPL. Chahar was used almost exclusively in the first 6-8 overs of play, showing his ability to swing the new ball well, and pick up early wickets with ease. In the latest IPL season alone, he has struck at a stellar average of 21.90, delivering a burst of attack in the initial stages of the game. Since making his T20i debut for India, he has managed to replicate the same form, with his best performance being the one against Bangladesh in the 3rd T20 of the series. He ended the macth with magical figures of 6/7 runs in 3.2 overs, in a performance that included a wonderful hat-trick as well. This is also the best ever bowling figures in a T20i game. Needless to say, Chahar has given us all the right indications for bigger things to come.
Shardul Thakur
I was having a bit of conflict regarding this selection, because Khaleel Ahmed was also in contention. But Shardul Thakur’s far superior prowess with the bat is the sole reason I picked him in this side. Thakur has been in and out of the Indian T20 set-up, but has shown us all good potential. He is very capable and talented, and can bowl well both in the middle, and death overs. He is also a good fielder, which is also a huge demand in this format of the game. His career-best performance of 4/27 against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy is a great example of his prowess. He has a mind-numbing strike-rate of 182.60 in T20i, making him a handy lower-order batsman. He has been wayward with his bowling at times, but his determination to improve himself will no doubt prove fruitful.
Kuldeep Yadav
I had Kuldeep Yadav initially in the ODI side, but given the fact that this side already has another right-arm wrist-spinner (Gopal), I had to switch between Chahal and him. By no means is Kuldeep Yadav a player not good enough for this format, however. The left-arm chinaman has a superb T20i bowling record, notching 39 wickets at a splendid average of 13.76! Even his strike-rate of 11.6 is sublime! His variations and disguised bowling action makes him a hard nut to crack. Even the best batsmen have struggled to pick his deliveries, often resulting in him providing valuable breakthroughs when he was required to do so. His best figures in T20is is 5/24, showcasing his amazing ability to deliver during the middle overs, and turn a game around if needed be. His inclusion also means that the captain is spoilt for choice with the variety of bowlers at his disposal!
So there you have it. This is the draft I would go with, should such an unlikely scenario arise. This only goes to show the quality of players that India have at their disposal, since many good cricketers like Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Khaleel Ahmed, Jaydev Unadkat, Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan and Vijay Shankar missed out on making the final 11. Credit should be given to the organised structure of cricket in India, which provides an easy platform for young talents to showcase their abilities. The IPL has also contributed to a hike in players available for selection, as they are given an opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best and prove themselves to all the cricket fans across the country. Overall, cricket in India is safe, as there are talented, capable cricketers waiting to receive the baton from our current superstars. Cheers to more quality cricket!
Cricket Unlimited 