Ajinkya Rahane Picks Dream White-Ball Team, Leaves Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Out

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]

Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane recently revealed his dream white-ball cricket team during a conversation with BBC. 

While the team featured several legendary cricketers from around the world, one thing caught everyone's attention. Rahane did not include two of India's biggest modern-day stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Instead, he chose cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist, and Jasprit Bumrah for key roles. 

Ajinkya Rahane Choses Sachin Tendulkar As The Opening Batter

During the interview, Ajinkya Rahane was asked to build his dream white-ball XI. He picked legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar as one of the opening batters.

Explaining his choice, Rahane praised Sachin's batting style and calm approach at the crease. He said he loved the way Tendulkar played the game and admired his composure under pressure.

It is worth mentioning that Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in cricket history. Therefore, Rahane had no hesitation in selecting the 'Master Blaster' to open the innings in his dream team. For the wicketkeeper's role, Rahane went with former Australia star Adam Gilchrist.

He explained that Gilchrist's aggressive batting style made him a perfect choice. Rahane also shed light on the Australian legend's ability to play different shots and the advantage of having a left-handed batter in the lineup.

Also Read: Not Vaibhav Sooryavanshi! India’s Next Virat Kohli Picked By Biggest Legend In Domestic

MS Dhoni Picked As The Ultimate Finisher

When it came to the finisher's role, Rahane selected former India captain MS Dhoni. Speaking about his choice, Ajinkya Rahane said, "We all know how good he was when he finished the game for the team."

Notably, Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in cricket history. Time and again, he guided India to memorable victories with his calm mindset and ability to chase difficult targets.

Ajinkya Rahane also picked India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as his preferred death bowler. Praising the fast bowler, he said, "I don't need to say much about Jasprit Bumrah. World-class bowler, match-winner. Any team, any captain would love to have him." 

It is worth mentioning that Bumrah has consistently delivered in all formats of the game. Moreover, his ability to bowl yorkers and perform under pressure has made him one of the best pacers in world cricket.

Test Match Special

@bbctms

Opener? 🏏 Wicketkeeper? 🤲 Death bowler? 💥 Some names here! 😮‍💨 Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane picks his white-ball dream team 🤔🤩

Jul 23, 2026, 1:29 AM

Why Were Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Left Out?

The biggest talking point from Ajinkya Rahane's selections was the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Notably, Rahane's decision does not necessarily mean he rates them lower. Instead, he opted for Sachin Tendulkar as his opening batter, leaving limited spots for other Indian batting greats. Since Tendulkar is considered one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen, Rahane preferred him in that position.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Rohit remain two of the finest batters of the modern era. Although both have retired from Test and T20Is, they continue to represent India in ODIs. They were last seen in action during India's tour of England in 2026.

Also Read: Ben Stokes Open To IPL Return After International Retirement