Veteran cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has picked India’s all-time Test XI. However, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are among the key players who failed to feature on his side as well. However, India are currently playing a five-match Test series against England, where India lost the first Test by five wickets in Leeds as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “You can’t look beyond two openers whose names are Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag. There isn’t much scope for discussion. A lot of calm on one side, and a lot of passion on the other. A lot of hitting from one end and solidity from the other.”

Chopra also stated that Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar should undoubtedly be the No. 3 and No. 4 batters in the playing XI of his side.

“Who should be kept at No. 3? Once again, there isn’t much debate. You might think whether Cheteshwar Pujara can be there, but I can’t look beyond Rahul Dravid, and neither can you. Rahul Dravid’s name being at No. 3 is as simple as Sachin paaji’s name being at No. 4. So Wall is at No. 3, and at No. 4, we have got God. There is no question or doubt about Paaji’s name being at No. 4. There was a long phase in his career when he was carrying the entire team on his shoulders,” he further added.

The veteran also picked Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, while also naming Kohli as the captain of his side as well.

“When I keep someone after Paaji at No. 5, that’s also a very easy job. That player’s name is Virat Kohli. You could have tried to keep Kohli’s name at No. 4 too, but you won’t be able to keep it ahead of Paaji. VVS Laxman’s name could have also been there at No. 5. Sourav Ganguly is also pulling his weight, but Virat Kohli has to be there at No. 5,” Chopra explained.

“At No. 6, I have kept Rishabh Pant. When I had made the team three or four years ago, I had kept MS Dhoni’s name. However, now I feel you have to put Rishabh Pant. If the guy becomes part of India’s all-time Test XI at 25 years of age, you doff your hat. He is worth his weight in gold,” he again added.

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However, Aakash Chopra also picked Kapil Dev as the seam-bowling all-rounder in his all-time India Test XI.

“At No. 7, I have got one of the finest all-rounders the world has ever seen – Kapil paaji. If a player like Paaji comes at No. 7, just think about it. In bowling, 434 wickets, and in batting, more than 5,000 runs. When he was playing, he was one of the greatest of that time. He is one of the greatest ever to have played the game,” he said.

“At No. 8, there was a slight tussle as to who to keep among Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Bishan Singh Bedi. I am going with Ravichandran Ashwin. I am just going with the sheer weight of performances. What else do you need if you have Jumbo at No. 9? More than 600 wickets, and you have got runs. You get decent batting at No. 9, and you have got the quality of Anil Kumble. Imagine Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin bowling in tandem, and then you have three proper fast bowlers,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra also completed his playing XI by picking Jasprit Bumrah and Zaheer Khan as the two specialist seamers as well.

“Only two fast bowlers are left. One is Jasprit Bumrah, who is among the two players I have been able to pick from the current lot. His name will have to be put in the list of all-time greats, considering the speed at which he is picking up wickets. Last but not the least, it’s a toss-up between Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath. I am going with Zaheer Khan because you get a left-armer. He has picked up a lot of wickets. Once again, an out-and-out wicket-taker,” he added.

Aakash Chopra’s all-time India Test XI:

Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Kapil Dev, Ravichandran Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Zaheer Khan