Venkatesh Prasad names India’s all-time ODI XI; leaves out two popular players
Prasad left out the likes of Sourav Ganguly and a few other players
Former fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has picked his version of India’s all-time ODI XI. To start with, he picked Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar as the opening partners. More than a decade ago, Tendulkar became the first man in the planet to notch a double century in ODI cricket, and he’s also the only batter with as many as 100 centuries in the 50-overs format.
Back in December 2013, Sachin retired from all forms of cricket and even three years following his retirement, a number of his records remain unbroken. Sehwag was also one of the most destructive top-order batters. In fact, he is among the three Indian batters with double tons in ODI cricket. Sehwag scored the double century against the West Indies.
Prasad didn’t include legendary skipper Sourav Ganguly, who led India to the final of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. At No.3, Prasad picked Virat Kohli, who relinquished the captaincy for Team India of late. He also Mohammad Azharuddin, who was a genius in his own rights, parking aside all the controversies he has been involved in.
Venkatesh Prasad didn’t pick Rohit Sharma
At No.5 and 6, Prasad went for MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, the members of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Even as the now 40-year-old played an unbeaten 91-run knock in the final, Yuvraj won the Player of the Tournament award. Kapil Dev, who captained India to glory in the 1983 World Cup in England, also featured in Prasad’s XI.
However, Venkatesh Prasad didn’t pick Rohit Sharma, who became the first batter with five centuries in a single World Cup edition in 2019. Prasad went for Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh as the two specialist spinners in the lineup. Singh and Kumble were good enough to give nightmares to the best of batting lineups.
Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan are the two specialist fast bowlers in Prasad’s lineup. Zaheer also played an important part in India’s title-winning glory in the 2011 WC. Srinath, on the other hand, went on to become a match referee
Venkatesh Prasad’s all-time ODI XI
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan
