Virat Kohli, Joe Root snubbed as ex-England skippers pick 'All-Time India-England Test XI of the 21st Century'

Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have revealed their all-time combined India-England Test XI for the 21st century ahead of the five-match Test series between the two teams. Joe Root and Virat Kohli have been excluded from the squad picked by the former England cricketers.

Virat Kohli played 28 Tests against England, scoring 1,991 runs at an average of 42.36. The batter delivered some of the most memorable performances of his red-ball career against the English side, including a century at Edgbaston in the opening Test of the 2018 series and a double hundred at the Wankhede.

Sehwag and Cook, The Most Beautiful Opening Combination - Nasser Hussain

Speaking on Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton unveiled their all-time combined India-England Test XI of the 21st century. They selected players who debuted after the year 2000, with five from each country and the eleventh spot open to either side.

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The duo selected Alastair Cook and Virender Sehwag as openers. Hussain called the Cook-Sehwag duo a “beautiful combination” of caution and aggression.

"I like Rohit Sharma but Virender Sehwag in that period. Sehwag and Cook, the most beautiful opening combination. left and right. Dasher and blocker," said Hussain.

Virat Kohli Out, Ben Stokes Named Captain in All-Time India-England Test XI

Sachin Tendulkar was picked for number four. They considered options among Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kevin Pietersen, and Rahul Dravid. Dravid was picked to bat at number three, while Pietersen was slotted in at number five, leaving out both Virat Kohli and Root.

Ben Stokes was picked at number six for his all-round abilities and was also named captain of the side. Rishabh Pant was selected as the wicketkeeper-batter.

"Dravid, Root, Kohli. Dravid batted the most at three. Dravid three, Tendulkar four, Pietersen five. So you are leaving Root and Kohli. We have missed out on Ganguly and Laxman. India does not have an all-rounder. Stokes at six. We have not picked Kohli, we have to pick Stokes as captain," the ex-England captain said.

Jasprit Bumrah and James Anderson Named in All-Time India-England XI

Jasprit Bumrah and James Anderson were considered automatic picks in the bowling line-up. Zaheer Khan was initially selected but later dropped due to the team exceeding the quota of Indian players. Stuart Broad joined the pace unit.

Ravichandran Ashwin was chosen ahead of several legendary names, including Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Graeme Swann.

"That is a very good team, you would hope so. The combination of two cricketing nations. I mean, who would be upset in that? Virat Kohli would be upset, definitely. Root (too)," Nasser Hussain said.

"What it shows you is the unbelievable quality of cricketers that these two countries have produced over the last quarter of a century," Atherton said.

Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain's combined India-England playing XI of the 21st century: Virender Sehwag, Alastair Cook, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Ben Stokes, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Jasprit Bumrah

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