Australia captain Pat Cummins sparked debate by excluding Virat Kohli from his all-time combined India-Australia XI. Cummins, sidelined due to a lower back injury for the ongoing white-ball series against India, revealed his pick of legendary players from both nations — but neither Kohli nor Rohit Sharma cut.
Clarifying his choice, Cummins told broadcasters that his combined XI considered only past players, which partly explains the absence of current stars like Kohli and Rohit. The lineup leaned heavily toward Australian legends, with only three Indians — Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Zaheer Khan — featuring.
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Cummins’ XI included Sachin Tendulkar opening alongside David Warner, followed by Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, and Michael Bevan in the middle order. MS Dhoni was named wicketkeeper, while the bowling attack comprised Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Zaheer Khan, and Glenn McGrath.
#PatCummins crafts his all-time AUS vs IND XI, handpicking the finest stars from past! 🤩
Share your ultimate playing XI in the comments using today’s stars! ⚡🏏#AUSvIND | 1st ODI | SUN, 19th OCT, 8 AM, on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/3KVZ7Ygtd7
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 15, 2025
Currently recovering from his injury, Cummins will also miss the first Ashes Test later this year. In his absence, Mitchell Marsh is set to lead the Australian side, which will include pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Additionally, Australia will be without first-choice wicketkeepers Alex Carey and Josh Inglis for the opening match of the India series.
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The combined XI decision has sparked conversation among cricket fans and analysts, with many debating the absence of contemporary Indian stars, despite Cummins emphasising that his selection focused solely on retired legends. The discussion highlights the challenge of balancing historical greatness with current impact when naming all-time XIs.
Pat Cummins’ IND-AUS Combined XI: David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Michael Bevan, MS Dhoni (wk), Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Zaheer Khan, Glenn McGrath
