Gautam Gambhir's All-Time India XI: No Room For Rohit Sharma And Jasprit Bumrah

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir , has recently unveiled his all-time India XI , which features cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar , Rahul Dravid , and MS Dhoni . Notably, modern-day batting sensation Virat Kohli also makes the list. However, fans were taken aback by the absence of current Indian captain Rohit Sharma and ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah , both of whom have been instrumental in India’s recent successes. Rohit, considered one of India's finest batters, and Bumrah, who has left a mark in all formats since his debut in 2016, were unexpected omissions.

In a video posted by Sportskeeda on YouTube, Gambhir revealed his lineup, placing himself alongside Virender Sehwag as the opening pair. Dravid and Tendulkar occupy the critical No. 3 and 4 spots, while Kohli is positioned at No. 5. Yuvraj Singh follows at No. 6, with MS Dhoni taking the No. 7 slot and the role of wicketkeeper.

Gambhir, who took over as India’s head coach from Rahul Dravid in July 2024, selected Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin as his preferred spinners, and opted for Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan as his fast-bowling duo.

The exclusion of Rohit Sharma, a player Gambhir has often praised, sparked considerable discussion among fans and analysts alike.

Gambhir’s All-Time India XI:
Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan.

Gambhir’s Contributions to Indian Cricket

Gautam Gambhir made his debut for India on April 11, 2003, in an ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka. Throughout his career, he played 58 Tests, 147 ODIs, and 37 T20Is. He was India’s top scorer in the 2007 T20 World Cup and played a pivotal role in the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka with a match-defining 97. Gambhir also achieved the top spot in the ICC Test batter rankings and captained India to victory in all six ODIs he led.