Asia Cup 2025: Gulbadin Naib ignores Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni in all-time India-Afghanistan combined XI

Former Delhi Capitals (DC) all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has picked his all-time combined India-Afghanistan XI ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup, scheduled to begin on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Naib excluded star Indian players Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni from his all-time India-Afghanistan XI.

Gulbadin Naib made his international debut for Afghanistan in August 2011. He has played 89 ODIs and 75 T20Is. The all-rounder has scored 1,332 runs in ODIs and 945 runs in T20Is. He has also taken 74 wickets in ODIs and 33 in T20Is. Naib has been named in Afghanistan’s preliminary squad for the Asia Cup.

Gulbadin Naib Reveals His All-Time India-Afghanistan Combined XI

Gulbadin Naib picked an all-time combined India-Afghanistan XI. He chose Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers, with Virat Kohli at No. 3 and Mumbai Indians’ (MI) batter Tilak Varma at No. 4.

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Naib included Afghanistan’s leading all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, who is their top run-scorer and second-highest wicket-taker, in the middle order. He also selected India’s Hardik Pandya for the XI.

"I would like to go with the left-right opening combination - Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings. Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Mohammad Nabi, and Hardik Pandya are the next to occupy my XI," Naib said during an exclusive conversation with CricTracker.

Gulbadin Naib Names Rashid Khan Captain of All-Time India-Afghanistan XI

Gulbadin Naib considered Azmatullah Omarzai and Ravindra Jadeja for the final all-rounder spot. He named Rashid Khan as the captain of his all-time India-Afghanistan XI.

The 34-year-old chose Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the team’s primary spinner, alongside specialist death-over bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Naveen-ul-Haq.

Jasprit Bumrah has taken 219 wickets in 48 Tests at an average below 20. He has claimed 238 wickets in limited-overs cricket and was named Player of the Tournament in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman ranks third among Afghanistan’s highest wicket-takers with 165 dismissals in 125 matches, while Naveen-ul-Haq is at seventh with 89 wickets in 63 games across formats.

"Rashid Khan will captain my side. One player between Azmatullah Omarzai and Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder. Jasprit Bumrah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Naveen-ul-Haq are other players part of my all-time XI," Naib added.

Gulbadin Naib's all-time India-Afghanistan XI:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Mohammad Nabi, Hardik Pandya, Azmatullah Omarzai/Ravindra Jadeja, Rashid Khan (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq

Naib was last seen in action while playing for the Band-e-Amir Dragons during the 2025 Shpageeza Cricket League season. The team managed to win three out of their eight matches.

Naib has a rich experience in franchise cricket, having competed in several major leagues worldwide, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), International League T20 (ILT20), and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

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