Best Combined Overseas XI Which Can Beat India In Test Cricket

India is the top-ranked team in world cricket at the moment in Test matches. They are unbeatable at home and almost unbeatable in overseas conditions as we saw in their recent trip to Australia. Barring the batting collapse in Adelaide, India was the better team among the two throughout the Test series. Virat Kohli’s men now eye history as they are aiming to win the ICC World Test Championship in a week’s time.

According to many experts, the team has all its bases covered and looks like the ‘favorites to win the title. Team India has beaten teams like West Indies, Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia, and England to get into the WTC final. In the process, they have played some outstanding cricket, especially against Australia Down Under.

In this article, we take a look at the best combined overseas XI that can challenge the Indian team in Test cricket. The side has the best players of their respective teams in the red-ball game.

Best Combined Overseas XI Which Can Beat India In Test Cricket

Tom Latham

Latham opens the batting in this XI. He has been one of the most established players in recent times in the New Zealand setup. He is also leading the team in the second Test against England in Edgbaston. Latham is closing in on 4000 Test runs as well.

Also Read: 3 Players Who Can Replace Kane Williamson In The New Zealand Playing XI Of ICC World Test Championship Final

Babar Azam

Azam opens the batting alongside Latham in this XI. He has been elevated to Test captaincy from Azhar Ali recently. He is the best batsman across formats for Pakistan and the World Test Championship was his first assignment as Test skipper. Azam as per reports will lead his national side in the 50-over World Cup in 2023.

Joe Root

Root slots in at number three in this strong middle-order for overseas XI. He has been in good form against India off late scoring 218 and 186 in the first two Test matches in Chennai. Though England lost the Test series, Root’s bat did all the talking.

Steve Smith (C)

Smith bats at number four in this line-up and leads the side as well against India. He is another batsman who has a potentially good record against Virat Kohli’s side in the longest format. Overall in 14 Tests against India Smith has scored 1742 runs at an average of 72.58.

Also Read: ICC World Test Championship: 5 Highest Partnerships Of The Tournament

Shakib-al-Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan slots in at number five in this XI. One of the best all-rounders of the game across formats, he is Bangladesh’s best player and one of the most sort after in domestic T20 cricket leagues as well. While he is a white-ball specialist he has good numbers in Test cricket too. He is closing in on 4000 runs and has 210 wickets in this format. Against India, he has played six Test matches.

Jos Buttler (WK)

Buttler along with Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer plays all three formats for England. He bats at the top of the order in the white-ball formats for England while slots in at number in Tests. He gets his chance at number six in this line-up. Against India, he has played 12 matches with a hundred to his name.

Ben Stokes

Buttler’s England teammate slots in at number seven in this line-up He was recently a part of the England squad that played a Test series against India. He did not have any performance of not as England lost the series. Stokes too has one ton against India in 15 games.

Moeen Ali

Ali slots in as the second spinner in the line-up. He has a particularly good record against the Indian in Test matches. He has two centuries to his name and 49 wickets in the format against India. He is a good option with the ball against the Men in Blue anywhere in the world.

Nathan Lyon

Lyon is the third and final spinner in the line-up. He played his 100th Test recently when the Indian team toured down under. Lyon has 94 wickets to his name against the top-ranked Test side which is the most by any spinner.

Pat Cummins

Cummins is one of the two pacers in this line-up. He took 70 wickets in the ICC World Test Championship and quite a few of them were against the top-ranked team. He was one of the wreckers in chief when India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide. Overall, in 10 games he has 43 wickets.

James Anderson

Anderson culminates an overseas XI which has all the making of beating India in Test cricket. He has the most wickets against the nation in the red-ball game. In 30 Tests he has 118 wickets against the WTC finalists.

Also Read: India’s Strongest Playing XI For The T20I Series Against Sri Lanka