Recently, Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed his combined India-Australia ODI XI composed entirely of players who have retired from ODI cricket.
Here’s the XI he chose:
- Openers: David Warner; Sachin Tendulkar
- Ricky Ponting; Steve Smith; Shane Watson; Michael Bevan
- Wicketkeeper: MS Dhoni
- Bowlers: Brett Lee; Shane Warne; Zaheer Khan; Glenn McGrath
No Place for Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma — And the Reasoning
What caught everyone’s attention: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of modern India’s greatest ODI batters, did not make the XI.
But this wasn’t an oversight — Cummins explicitly stated the XI would consist only of retired players. Since both Kohli and Rohit are still active in ODI cricket as of his announcement, they were automatically ineligible under that criterion.
So the omission isn’t necessarily a statement against their quality — it’s a logical consequence of the boundary Cummins set for the selection.
Analysis: What This Means, Reactions & Implications
Respect for Legends & Nostalgia Factor
Cummins’ picks lean heavily on legends who made massive contributions in their eras — Sachin, Ponting, McGrath, Warne etc. He seems to be celebrating the history of IND vs AUS ODI contests. The retirement-rule ensures it’s a look back rather than current form or recent performances.
Virat & Rohit Still Writing History
Kohli and Rohit are still playing ODIs; their records continue to evolve. Thus, while they are among India’s greats, any “all-time” or “best possible” XI that includes current players may get outdated quickly as stats shift. Cummins seems to have avoided that by sticking to retired names.
Fan Sentiment & Debate
Understandably, many fans reacted with surprise, even disappointment. Kohli and Rohit are so dominant in modern cricket that their non-inclusion provokes debate: is retirement alone enough reason to omit someone so impactful? Is consistency or recent peak performance more compelling than legendary status?
There are also discussions around fairness: if someone asked younger or current players to pick an all‐time XI, the choices might differ. Cummins’ frame (retired players only) narrows the field, but also perhaps limits recognition for those still active but perhaps already legendary.
Selection Criteria Matter
This episode reinforces a key point: when people name “all-time XIs”, what criteria you use (retired vs active, peak vs career aggregate vs head-to-head etc.) fundamentally shapes the outcome. Cummins used “retired status” and “ODI track record” among legends, which naturally excluded still-active stars.
Conclusion
Pat Cummins’ India-Australia combined ODI XI is a tribute to the retired legends — a nostalgic look at players who’ve carved their place in cricket history. The non-inclusion of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma isn’t so much a snub as a consequence of the parameters Cummins set: only those who’ve finished their ODI careers.
Nevertheless, the choice sparks useful debate: what weight should current excellence have in such “all time” discussions? And how do we balance recognition of legends still playing, versus celebrating those who have completed their summers in the sun?
