Cricket legends Ravi Shastri and Eoin Morgan have put together their dream all-time ODI XI featuring players from India and England. At the top of the order, we have the iconic Sachin Tendulkar opening alongside Rohit Sharma, while the ever-reliable MS Dhoni takes the helm as captain. This lineup showcases some of the greatest talents from both countries, though it does leave out a few big names that fans might expect. Interestingly, even though both Shastri and Morgan have lifted the ODI World Cup as captains, they chose not to include themselves in this elite team. Their selection leans heavily towards Indian players, highlighting the country’s remarkable legacy in one-day cricket.
In total, the XI boasts eight Indian players and just three from England, emphasizing India’s stronghold in ODI history. Shastri mentioned that the choice for captaincy was a tough call between three World Cup-winning leaders: MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Eoin Morgan. Ultimately, he went with Dhoni, praising his incredible track record of guiding India to every major ICC white-ball title, including the ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy, and T20 World Cup.
Ravi Shastri And Eoin Morgan Pick MS Dhoni To Lead, Leave Out Several ODI Icons
Shastri and Morgan have thrown their support behind Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma as the opening duo. Sachin still holds the record for the most runs in ODI history, racking up an impressive 18,426 runs, while Rohit has made a name for himself with 11,895 runs, solidifying his status as one of the greatest openers in the game. Jos Buttler takes the No. 3 spot, followed by Virat Kohli, who has an astounding 14,941 ODI runs and a record-breaking 54 centuries in 314 matches. Rounding out the top five is Yuvraj Singh, celebrated for his match-winning performances, including his standout role as Player of the Tournament during India’s 2011 World Cup victory.
In the all-rounder department, we have Kapil Dev and Ben Stokes, both of whom played pivotal roles in their respective World Cup triumphs. Kapil led India to its groundbreaking 1983 title, while Stokes emerged as England’s hero in the unforgettable 2019 World Cup final. Dhoni was selected as the wicketkeeper and captain, with Shastri lauding his leadership skills and incredible success in ICC tournaments.
The bowling lineup is a mix of experience and diversity. Adil Rashid was chosen as the specialist leg-spinner, standing out among several contenders. The England spinner has taken 243 ODI wickets, making him his country’s second-highest wicket-taker in this format. Joining him as the second spinner is Harbhajan Singh, who has claimed 265 wickets in 234 ODIs. Jasprit Bumrah rounds out the XI as the sole specialist fast bowler, boasting 151 wickets in just 91 ODIs at an impressive average below 24. Former India pacer Zaheer Khan, who finished with 269 ODI wickets, was named the 12th man.
Some notable names missing from this lineup include Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Mohinder Amarnath, Joe Root, and even Morgan himself, making this final XI a hot topic among cricket enthusiasts.
Ravi Shastri’s all-time India-England ODI XI: Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kapil Dev, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni (c), Adil Rashid, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah; 12th Man: Zaheer Khan
