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Pat Cummins’ All-Time XI Snubs Kohli & Rohit; Cites ‘Retired Players Only’ Rule

Shivansh Rana | 3 min read | 1 day ago | Oct 15, 2025 04:24 pm IST
Pat Cummins' All-Time XI Snubs Kohli & Rohit; Cites 'Retired Players Only' Rule

So, Pat Cummins just dropped a bombshell ahead of the big India-Australia ODI series. The Australian captain unveiled his all-time India-Australia ODI XI, and guess who’s missing? Yeah, you read that right – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma didn’t make the cut. The selections have absolutely ignited a firestorm of debate among cricket fans everywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Pat Cummins named his all-time combined India-Australia ODI XI, but controversially left out Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
  • His reason? He only selected players who have retired from international ODI cricket.
  • The team includes just three Indians: Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Zaheer Khan.
  • Ironically, Cummins himself will miss the upcoming ODI series against India due to injury, while Kohli and Rohit are confirmed to play.

The Shocking XI

Look, everyone loves making these fantasy teams. But when the current Aussie skipper does it, you pay attention. And Cummins’ team is definitely a conversation starter. He picked a squad packed with legends, but the glaring omissions of two of modern cricket’s giants have raised more than a few eyebrows.

His XI is captained by Ricky Ponting and includes icons like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Shane Warne. But with only three Indian players in the final lineup, it’s a heavily Australian-favored team. Here’s the full squad he chose:

  • David Warner
  • Sachin Tendulkar
  • Ricky Ponting (Captain)
  • Steve Smith
  • Shane Watson
  • Michael Bevan
  • MS Dhoni (Wicketkeeper)
  • Brett Lee
  • Shane Warne
  • Zaheer Khan
  • Glenn McGrath

So What’s The Justification?

Before you get too worked up, Cummins did provide his reasoning. And it’s a very specific one. He clarified during his appearance on Star Sports that his personal criteria for selection was strict: only players who have retired from One-Day International cricket were eligible. That’s the rule that pushed Kohli and Rohit out of contention for his dream team.

But honestly, does that settle the debate? For many fans, an all-time team should feature the best of the best, regardless of their current playing status. It’s a choice that has completely split opinions online and in commentary boxes.

Expert Analysis

Pundits are pointing out that while the ‘retired’ rule provides a neat explanation, it also conveniently sidesteps the incredibly difficult decision of placing Kohli and Rohit in a lineup filled with historical greats. It’s a diplomatic move, perhaps, but one that avoids answering the tougher question: where do today’s legends truly rank against the icons of the past?

Social Media Storm

As you can imagine, the internet is buzzing. Fans are creating their own XIs, debating the merits of Cummins’ picks, and questioning the logic. The exclusion of Kohli and Sharma, two of the most dominant white-ball players ever, has become the central point of every discussion, creating a massive wave of anticipation for the upcoming series.

The Ultimate Irony

Here’s the thing. While this whole debate rages on, there’s a huge twist in the story. Pat Cummins himself won’t even be playing in the upcoming three-match ODI series against India, which kicks off on October 19, 2025. He’s been sidelined with a lower-back stress injury. Mitchell Marsh will be leading the Aussies instead.

And who will be there, ready to take the field in Perth for the first ODI? You guessed it. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, playing under the captaincy of Shubman Gill. They might be out of Cummins’ all-time list, but they’re very much in the game. What do you think of his picks? Let us know!