- Ajinkya Rahane’s India’s best ever
- Ajinkya Rahane’s all-time Indian Test scorer
- The list had several notable omissions: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were all left out, a combination that immediately provoked strong reactions on social media.
Ajinkya Rahane’s India’s best ever
Ajinkya Rahane’s all-time Indian Test scorer The list had several notable omissions: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were all left out, a combination that immediately provoked strong reactions on social media. Rahane retired from cricket in July 2026 after playing 85 Test matches and scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46.
The all-time XI drill was based on a strict personal rule: every player selected had to be someone Rahane had actually played with. The absence of Kohli and Bumrah proved to be the most discussed aspect of the selection. Both are widely regarded as central figures in India’s modern Test era and many fans could hardly imagine an Indian Test XI without them.
Why are Kohli and Bumrah missing from Rahane’s XI? Rahane’s self-imposed rule required each player to be a direct teammate, which did not rule out Kohli or Bumrah alone, as Rahane played alongside both in international cricket. The most telling factor behind Kohli’s absence is his position.
Rahane placed Sachin Tendulkar at number four, and with Rahul Dravid at number three and Rahane himself at number five, there was simply no space left in the middle order for Kohli to bat. The exclusion of Jasprit Bumrah from the fastbreak attack triggered an even stronger reaction from the fans. Bumrah is considered by many to be one of the best fast bowlers India has ever produced, but Rahane has opted for a different trio in his XI.
No specific reason for Bumrah’s omission was revealed. Rohit Sharma was also left out, with Rahane Murali instead choosing Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan as the opening pair, a combination that represented India in several overseas series in the mid-2010s. Who made it into Rahane’s best-ever Indian Test starting XI?
The batting order in Rahane’s XI is: Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan to open, followed by Rahul Dravid at number three, Sachin Tendulkar at number four and Rahane himself at number five. MS Dhoni takes on the role of wicketkeeper and also acts as ctain. Rahane explained that Dhoni was his first international cricketer at the club, a detail that clearly influenced the choice.
The spin department includes Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, a duo who formed the backbone of the Indian bowling attack both home and away for several years. The pace trio consists of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma, three bowlers who played a crucial role in India taking twenty wickets in Test matches around the world. The selection reflects the teammates and mentors Rahane lost in his formative years in red-ball cricket.
The top award particularly recognizes the senior players with whom it has learned to build Test innings, including Tendulkar and Dravid. The omission of Kohli, with whom Rahane shared several notable partnerships during his Test career, added to the debate that followed the online announcement.
