In a recent, unique discussion with CricTracker, Afghanistan’s versatile player, Gulbadin Naib, provided an interesting perspective into his cricketing strategies by unveiling his dream India-Afghanistan combined squad. This selection, having gained significant traction across various social platforms, stands out due to its unexpected choices. Surprisingly, it omits two of India’s most esteemed cricket figures, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.
Gulbadin Naib’s all-time India-Afghanistan combined XI ahead of Asia Cup 2025
Naib’s squad, created in anticipation of the Asia Cup 2025, appears to be structured around a well-defined strategic vision, evident in his choices for the opening positions. He elaborated on his reasoning behind the selection, stating: “I would prefer a left-right combination at the top – Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Yashasvi Jaiswal as openers. Following them, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Mohammad Nabi, and Hardik Pandya would be next in my XI,” This preference for a left-right batting partnership continues further down the order, providing team balance and presenting difficulties for the opposition’s bowling attack.
The team is equipped with a robust all-rounder base. It includes Afghanistan’s seasoned player Mohammad Nabi, India’s impactful Hardik Pandya, and a close contest between Azmatullah Omarzai and Ravindra Jadeja. Naib further named his favored bowlers, showing preference for his compatriots. He added, “Rashid Khan will be the captain. One player between Azmatullah Omarzai and Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder. Jasprit Bumrah, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Naveen-ul-Haq are the remaining players in my all-time XI.” By selecting Rashid as captain, Naib reinforced his leaning towards a leader from his own nation, displaying the wealth of talent and leadership within the Afghanistan setup.
Absence of iconic Indian legends MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma
The most notable element of Naib’s selection is, without a doubt, the exclusion of two prominent names in Indian cricket: Rohit and Dhoni. While Naib’s picks were intentional and influenced by distinct team-building principles, overlooking such celebrated individuals has provoked considerable discussion. The call to favor the young, aggressive Jaiswal over Rohit as an opening batter demonstrates Naib’s inclination towards a modern, undaunted style, whereas the selection of Gurbaz as the wicketkeeper-batter, instead of the legendary Dhoni, further stresses his emphasis on current performance and limited-overs dynamism.
This daring decision shows Naib’s capacity for independent thought and his readiness to take unconventional routes that run contrary to general beliefs. His choices also display a deep sense of respect for the cricketing capabilities within his own nation. He allocated positions to three Afghan bowlers, Mujeeb, Naveen, and captain Rashid, thereby omitting several notable Indian bowlers. The resulting XI is a compelling and discussion-worthy team. It questions established ideas of which players should be in an ‘all-time’ squad.
