Jasprit Bumrah selected, but no Rohit Sharma or Ravindra Jadeja in India’s best Test XI – 1985-2025
More than any other team, the pressure that comes with playing for India is next level. With a fan base of more than one billion people, there are more fans of cricket in India than there are people in Europe. Representing India is a huge responsibility.
Since 1985, Indian cricket has had its share of ups and downs—although it has mainly been ups. There have been a host of superstars who have played for them, which makes choosing a best XI very difficult.
The period under review for this team is the last 40 years (1985 to 2025). Batsmen are chosen based on their performances in specific batting positions.
In other words, the statistics you see alongside their names are not their overall career numbers – they are the runs they recorded in that particular position since 1985.
It goes without saying that there are plenty of excellent players who have missed out on selection. There is no room for Dilip Vengsarkar at four (even though he has a better average than Virat Kohli).
There is also no space for players like Sourav Ganguly, Rohit Sharma, or another former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin. But who does make our best XI since 1985? Here’s the team…
1. Virender Sehwag
98 Tests as opener, 8,124 runs, average: 50.14
Few batters in Test history have redefined the role of an opener quite like Virender Sehwag. A trailblazer who brought ODI-style aggression into the red-ball game, Sehwag’s strike rate and ability to dismantle new-ball attacks made him a nightmare for bowlers.
His 8000-plus runs at an average of 50 is staggering, especially considering he played during an era with fearsome attacks from Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan. For sheer impact, no India opener in this period has matched him.
2. Sunil Gavaskar
17 Tests as opener, 1,237 runs, average: 51.54
While the bulk of Sunil Gavaskar’s career came before 1985, he still played 17 Tests in our period of review—and scored over 1200 runs at a superb average. Technique, composure, and unflinching discipline made Gavaskar a model opener, and even in his twilight years, he remained a thorn in the side of the best.
Pairing his calm with Sehwag’s chaos gives this XI a perfectly balanced opening duo. Current opener Yashasvi Jaiswal deserves special mention here – his average of 52.88 is a tad higher than Gavaskar’s, but his career is nascent and at just 23 years old he needs a little more time before he gets the nod for this team.
3. Rahul Dravid
135 Tests at number 3, 10,501 runs, average: 53.30
You don’t earn a nickname like ‘The Wall’ without reason. Dravid’s record at No. 3 is the foundation of India’s most successful Test era.
A tireless accumulator of runs and a man who made bowlers work harder than anyone else, Dravid’s importance is amplified in away Tests, where his technique and temperament were often the difference between collapse and victory. His 10,000+ runs in the position speak volumes.
4. Virat Kohli (captain)
99 Tests at number 4, 7,564 runs, average: 50.09
Based on batting alone Kohli shouldn’t be in this team. That’s not to say that he’s not a phenomenal batsman, but there are several players with better averages than him at number four including Ganguly, Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkar.
But his record as captain is the best India have to offer. As skipper Kohli boasts a 58.82 percent win rate and quite simply, no other candidates amongst regular skippers can come close to matching this.
Also read: David Warner and Nathan Lyon don’t make Australia’s best Test XI – 1985-2025
As a batsman, Kohli at four is a big pick. He brought aggression, fitness, and an unwavering commitment to winning abroad. Kohli’s record at number four, where he’s scored over 7500 runs at an average above 50, puts him alongside the all-time greats.
Under his leadership, India achieved the top ranking and historic Test wins in Australia and England.
5. Sachin Tendulkar
30 Tests at number 5, 1,552 runs, average: 59.69
Yes, it feels strange to have Tendulkar this low in the order, but the numbers justify it. His record at No. 5—1552 runs at an average just shy of 60—is exceptional.
The genius of Sachin lies in his adaptability. Whether batting at 4, 5, or even 6 in the early part of his career, he was always reliable. With the top four already stacked, Tendulkar at five is a luxury few teams could dream of.
It is worth saying that Tendulkar’s numbers at four are better than Kohli’s but given that the Little Masters’ numbers at five are better than his numbers at four, it is a no-brainer to pick him here.
6. VVS Laxman
52 Tests at number 6, 2,760 runs, average: 50.18
If elegance had a name, it would be Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman. He may not have the career aggregates of his peers, but his contributions at No. 6 are gold-dust.
His average above 50 and ability to play under pressure – remember that Eden Gardens epic? – make him a perfect fit. Laxman’s role in this team is the crisis-solver, the man for the moment, the artist who turns games around.
7. MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper)
72 Tests at number 7, 2,871 runs, average: 30.54
While MS Dhoni’s Test career doesn’t quite match his white-ball greatness, his role as a lower middle-order batsman and keeper is vital. A composed finisher, a shrewd tactician, and a leader with a calm head, Dhoni added grit and game awareness.
His average of 30.54 may seem modest, but he often scored when it mattered most—and his glove work was consistently solid, especially on turning tracks.
Dhoni’s average at six (1218 runs from 18 Tests at an average of 55.36) is actually considerably better than his average at seven, but in order to fit in Laxman we have had to juggle things a bit. Curiously Laxman averages 86.5 at seven, but from only a handful of games.
8. Kapil Dev
65 Tests at number 8, 735 runs, average: 30.62 | 182 wickets, average: 31.38
Though a large part of his career preceded 1985, Kapil Dev was still an excellent force in the final years of his international career. His bowling numbers in this window—182 wickets at an average of just over 31—are a testament to his longevity and adaptability. Kapil adds balance to the XI, capable of changing games with both bat and ball.
The original great Indian all-rounder, and still among the very best. With a highest score of 110 during the period under review Dev is a key player in this XI.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
106 Tests, 537 wickets, average: 24.00 | 3,503 runs, average: 25.75
Ashwin’s numbers speak for themselves—537 wickets at an average of 24. He has been the undisputed king of spin in India for over a decade and has grown into an increasingly potent weapon away from home too.
Ashwin’s tactical nous, variations, and ability to adapt make him indispensable. He also adds valuable lower order runs and cricketing smarts to this team.
10. Anil Kumble
132 Tests, 619 wickets, average: 29.65
India’s most prolific Test bowler, Anil Kumble was relentless, intelligent, and unmatched in consistency. He bowled India to countless home wins and produced memorable performances abroad.
His average just below 30 across more than 130 Tests since 1985 is simply remarkable. Kumble’s work ethic, fighting spirit, and match-winning pedigree make him an automatic pick.
11. Jasprit Bumrah
45 Tests, 205 wickets, average: 19.40
There’s a compelling case to be made that Bumrah is the finest Indian fast bowler of the modern era. His average of 19.40 is sensational—especially considering most of his games have been overseas.
A bowler of angles, pace, and deceptive movement, Bumrah has become a strike weapon in every condition. Injuries have limited his appearances, but whenever he has played, he has delivered.
12. Ravindra Jadeja
80 Tests, 3,370 runs, average: 34.74 | 323 wickets, average: 24.14
It’s genuinely harsh to leave out Ravindra Jadeja from the starting XI. His all-round numbers are elite—over 3000 runs at 34.74 and 323 wickets at a bowling average of 24.14.
With bat, ball, and in the field, Jadeja is a three-dimensional force. His exclusion is simply a case of there being too many other legends, but he’s the perfect 12th man, ready to slot in for either a spinner or an all-rounder at any time.
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