Pujara and Knight’s Combined India-England XI

In a unique cricketing exercise organized by ESPNCricinfo, Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara and former England player Nick Knight engaged in selecting their combined Test XI for India and England from the 21st century. The selection process was intriguing as it saw the exclusion of notable Indian players like Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, and Zaheer Khan from Pujara’s lineup.

The Selection Process

The contest began with a coin toss, which Pujara won. His first choice was England’s Ben Stokes, a versatile all-rounder known for his match-winning performances. Knight responded by selecting Alastair Cook and Virender Sehwag as his opening batsmen. Despite the availability of Indian openers like Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, Pujara opted for Alec Stewart as the wicketkeeper-opener alongside Rahul Dravid.

Bowling Lineup Choices

Knight chose England’s pace duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad, leaving out Zaheer Khan. Pujara selected Mohammed Shami as his second pacer, reinforcing his preference for an all-Indian bowling attack. In the spin department, Pujara included Ravichandran Ashwin and added Joe Root to strengthen the middle order. Knight’s subsequent picks were Sachin Tendulkar and Kevin Pietersen, followed by MS Dhoni and Graeme Swann.

Finalizing the Team

Pujara completed his lineup with Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli, along with VVS Laxman and Andrew Flintoff. His final selection included Jasprit Bumrah and Matthew Hoggard as the 12th man.

Gambhir’s Coaching Philosophy

Recently, Gautam Gambhir shared insights into his coaching mindset, emphasizing the significance of first-class cricket. He highlighted the importance of growth, learning, and daily competition for both himself and his team. Gambhir stressed that representing India is paramount, valuing every opinion about the team’s dressing room culture.