Kohli Named Captain of All-Time India Test XI, Jadeja Left Out

Former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh has picked an all-time India Test XI to mark the national team’s 600th Test match, and the list is already stirring debate among fans. The squad blends legends from different eras with current stars, but a few calls stand out as particularly bold.

Kohli Handed Captaincy Over Kapil Dev

Ganesh’s biggest talking point is his choice of captain. Rather than going with Kapil Dev, whose leadership famously delivered India’s 1983 World Cup triumph, the former pacer handed the armband to Virat Kohli. The decision reflects Kohli’s own standing as one of the most successful and aggressive captains in the format’s modern history, even as it overlooks Kapil’s historic legacy at the helm.

The full XI also brings together some of Indian cricket’s biggest names, including Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, alongside contemporary players like Jasprit Bumrah.

Pant Preferred Over Dhoni Behind the Stumps

Another selection likely to divide opinion is the choice of wicketkeeper. Ganesh went with Rishabh Pant instead of MS Dhoni, pointing to Pant’s fearless, attacking batting style and his knack for turning matches on their head. Dhoni’s calm captaincy and reliable glovework made way for Pant’s more explosive game-changing ability.

In the bowling department, Ravichandran Ashwin was picked ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, meaning the all-rounder misses out entirely. Ashwin joins Kumble and Javagal Srinath to round out a varied attack alongside Bumrah, giving the side a mix of pace and spin across generations.

Ganesh did not offer detailed reasoning for each pick, simply revealing his preferred combination, leaving fans to debate the merits of snubbing Dhoni, Jadeja and Kapil’s captaincy in favour of India’s modern greats.