Sunil Gavaskar followed Pakistan player-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja’s suit and decided to come up with an India Pakistan Test XI. A player from the 1970-80s, Gavaskar’s team consists of all superstars and former legends of the game. Unsurprisingly so, Gavaskar’s India-Pakistan Test XI doesn’t feature any current star from either of the national teams. The ‘Little Master’s combined Test XI consists of six Indians and five Pakistan cricketers.
Sunil Gavaskar went on to pick up a star-studded batting line-up comprising of a powerful opening duo. He decided to have, India’s ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ Virender Sehwag, and Hanif Mohammed from Pakistan as his openers.
Gavaskar decided to fill up middle order with two of the greatest batsman from both of the countries. He decided to slot in Zaheer Abbas in at the all-important number 3 spot. Sunny wants one of the best players in the history of the game and the highest runner scorer in international cricket, the Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar to occupy the number 4 spot in his Test XI.
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Former Indian batsman Gundappa Vishwanath was chosen to bat at number 5. Gavaskar has often spoken on his admiration for Gundappa Vishwanath’s batting whenever he is in the commentary box. it now secret that Gavaskar s a big fan of Vishwanath’s batting and the way he uses his wrists while playing the shots.
Gavaskar had a little to think about when he had to pick his allrounders. Undoublty the Indian opener decided to go with two greatest all-rounders ever produced. He included Pakistani great and current prime minister Imran Khan alongside India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev in his team. Imran Khan and Kapil Dev filled up the number 6 and 7 spots respectively.
The wicket-keeping duties were appointed to Gavaskar’s former teammate Syed Kirmani. Bowling great Wasim Akram is the only specialist seamer in the lineup. Whereas, the two spinners in the side are
With Syed Kirmani slotted to take up the wicket-keeping duties at number 8, Sunny decided to B.S. Chandrashekhar as the lone Indian bowler in his lineup. Gavaskar decided to have Pakistani spinner Abdul Qadir to compliment his Indian counterpart as the 3 spinners in his lineup. WIth fast-bowling all-rounder in Imran Khan and Kapil dev in the team, Sunil decided to go with Pakistan left-arm legend Wasim Akram as the lone specialist seamer in the lineup
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Sunil Gavaskar’s combined India-Pakistan Test XI:
Hanif Mohammad, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Abbas, Sachin Tendulkar, Gundappa Viswanath, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Syed Kirmani, Wasim Akram, Abdul Qadir, B.S. Chandrasekhar