Former England opener Nick Knight has grabbed headlines after unveiling his “combined” India–England Test XI of the 21st century, astonishingly excluding modern stalwarts Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. He revealed his picks during ESPNcricinfo’s “The Draft” series. With England leading India 2–1 in the ongoing five‑match series and the fourth Test set to begin on July 23 at Old Trafford, Knight’s choices have sparked considerable debate on both sides of the cricketing world.

Knight opted for openers Alastair Cook and Virender Sehwag—a pairing built on the steely consolidation of Cook and the explosive flair of Sehwag. At No. 3, he selected former England captain Michael Vaughan—a surprising choice given the exceptional records of India’s Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara in that slot.

His middle order includes batting icon Sachin Tendulkar at No. 4—a decision that inadvertently edged Kohli out of contention. Knight then slots in Kevin Pietersen at No. 5 and England’s Graham Thorpe at No. 6. Wrapping up the top seven, he picked MS Dhoni as wicketkeeper, placing him at No. 7.

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For the bowling attack, Knight assembled a potent pace trio of Zaheer Khan, Stuart Broad, and James Anderson, with Graeme Swann as the lone specialist spinner. Despite the formidable pace lineup, the side lacks a genuine all-rounder, leading Knight to name Anil Kumble as 12th man.

His omission of both Kohli and Bumrah has sparked surprise and critique. Kohli, with more than 9,000 Test runs and thirty centuries, and Bumrah, one of the most feared seamers in red-ball cricket, are undeniable figures in modern Test cricket—a fact highlighted by their absence in Knight’s lineup.

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As the series progresses with the fourth Test looming, Knight’s selections serve as a spark for lively discussion in the cricketing community, stirring debate on what defines greatness—consistency, match-winning records, or a blend of legacy and impact.

Nick Knight’s Combined India-England XI (21st century): Alastair Cook, Virender Sehwag, Michael Vaughan, Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Graham Thorpe, MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Anil Kumble (12th man)