Uthappa Snubs Rohit Sharma in Dream India ODI XI

Former India batter Robin Uthappa has stirred up cricket chatter by unveiling his all-time India ODI XI, notably leaving out Rohit Sharma even though the star opener ranks as the country’s third-highest run-getter in the format. Uthappa shared his selections on Instagram as part of a “This or That” challenge, sparking debate among fans over the snub.

Tendulkar-Ganguly Open, Kohli Anchors at Three

Uthappa’s top order features Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly as openers. Tendulkar remains India’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer, while Ganguly, recently inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, built a formidable career total across more than 300 appearances. Virat Kohli was slotted in at number three, a fitting choice given he sits second on India’s ODI run charts and holds the record for most centuries in the format. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni filled out the middle order, with Dhoni also handed the captaincy in recognition of his leadership, including India’s triumphant 2011 World Cup campaign.

Bowling Attack Blends Pace and Spin

Suresh Raina and Kapil Dev rounded out the batting and all-rounder roles, with Kapil bringing genuine pace-bowling value. In the spin department, Uthappa opted for Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin, and picked Anil Kumble over Harbhajan Singh. Zaheer Khan and Jasprit Bumrah were named as the frontline pace bowlers, completing a well-rounded attack.

Meanwhile, speculation continues around Rohit Sharma’s ODI future. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has reportedly encouraged him to stay relaxed, trust his instincts, and continue playing his natural, attacking game rather than worry about external pressure or selection debates.