India-Pakistan combined ODI XI featuring the active players

The k
The legendary Imran Khan(Pakistan) and Sunil Gavaskar(India)

India is a cricket loving nation where cricket is often considered as important as a religion! India started playing cricket in 1932 at Lord's but had not been a force to reckon until the 1970s when eminent players such as Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath, Kapil Dev, Erapalli Prasanna and Bishen Singh Bedi emerged. That was when the cricketing world started taking India seriously, and in 1983, under the captaincy of the legendary Kapil Dev, India won it's first ever Cricket World Cup.

Indian cricket lost a few of its good players after the partition of the country in 1947, when some players migrated to the newly formed country, Pakistan. Players such as Gul Mohammad, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, and Amir Elahi played for India before and for Pakistan after partition.

What if this partition never took place? Let us consider a hypothetical situation and look at what could be the Indian cricket team, a unified or undivided Indian cricket team of 2018...


#1 Rohit Sharma

Australia v India: Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series - Game 2
Rohit after scoring a Hundred against Australia

With the stellar reputation this man has built for himself, having scored 3 double centuries in ODI cricket, and the fear his name instils in the minds of the bowlers, he is a modern-day batting maestro. Since the time he has turned into an opener for India in limited overs Cricket, Rohit Sharma has redefined his own batting style.

He had been known as a stylish middle-order batsman who, once settled, could hit the big shots, but now, he has become this elegant opening batsman who can smash the ball outside the park at will. If not dismissed early in his innings, he can make the opposition pay throughout the innings.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

South Africa v India - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
Shikhar 'Gabbar' Dhawan is a great example for aspiring cricketers

This may be slightly debatable, but Dhawan makes the cut ahead of Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman due to his experience and the fact that he has scored runs all across the globe. No matter how poor his overseas Test record might have been, Shikhar Dhawan is someone who has done well for India in the ODI format, be in at home or abroad.

He was the fifth-highest run scorer in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, that took place in Australia and New Zealand, with 412 runs at an average of 51.50 and strike rate of 91.75. Having been around since 2004, when he won the ICC U-19 World Cup, Dhawan has seen plenty of ups and downs.

There were times when he and his well-wishers expected him to get national call-ups, but he didn't. Nonetheless, the fact that he has maintained a strong resolve and exhibited the great quality of bouncing back is commendable.

The comeback that he made into the Champions Trophy 2013 squad was the turning point of his career, where he scored 363 runs in 5 matches at an average of 90.75 and a strike rate of over 100. He also won the Golden Bat award for scoring the most runs in the tournament and was also named the player of the tournament.

The resilient spirit he has shown over the years has made him a very strong minded and determined player, thus making it to this side over the relatively less-experienced Fakhar Zaman.

#3 Babar Azam

Australia v Pakistan - 5th ODI
Babar Azam is often termed as Pakistan's Virat Kohli

The young man from Pakistan who has been making the headlines for quite some time now, Babar Azam is the joint second fastest Batsman to have reached the milestone of 1000 ODI runs in 21 innings, equaling Sir Viv Richards, Kevin Pieterson, Jonathon Trott and Quinton de Kock.

He has been a batting sensation for Pakistan and the emergence of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman has strengthened the Pakistani batting lineup, which had been lacking dependability for a while.

Former Captain Misbah-ul-Haq was always seen playing good knocks alone without much support from the other batsmen, but now, the batsmen are complimenting their traditionally strong bowling attack with Babar Azam being one of the most instrumental in this transition. Thus, he deserves to bat at number 3.

#4 Virat Kohli (c)

Australia v India - Game 3
Skipper and run machine Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, a name that needs no introduction. Virat has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the history of the game and has shown the herculean ability to adapt to circumstances and learn from mistakes. As pointed out by the great Sachin Tendulkar himself, Virat's ability to identify his weak areas and improve upon them is 'the best part about him'.

Virat has always managed to come back stronger after every rough patch in his career. He has taken his weaknesses and bad times positively and has worked to not repeat the same errors. The positive mindset and approach he brings to the side makes him the ideal leader who leads from the front.

#5 MS Dhoni (WK)

India v Bangladesh: Quarter Final - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
MS Dhoni in India v Bangladesh: Quarter Final - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

Even though he seems to be going through a rough patch in his International career, one just cannot ignore the impact MS has on any particular game. He has one of the best cricketing minds, if not 'the best cricketing mind', and can control games right from behind the stumps as a wicket-keeper.

He doesn't need the formal role of captaincy, but with his tactics and deep understanding of the game, he is able to read the batsmen's minds and make them fall prey to his plans. He has not been able to live up to the expectations from him with the bat, but given the kind of form he showed in the IPL 2018, where he re-invented his own batting style, he is still a force to reckon.

He still exhibits the abilities to build partnerships by rotating the strike, converting singles into doubles and doubles into triples, and also smashing the ball hard when needed.

#6 Mohammad Hafeez

Mohamma
Mohammad Hafeez: Batting and Bowling

Due to his ability to chip in in the middle with his off-spin, Hafeez makes the cut into the side. Number 6 may be too low for him but the top spots are reserved for the best in the business and therefore, Hafeez finds himself at number 6 as the spin-bowling all-rounder.

MS Dhoni and Hafeez may swap their positions, depending on the game situations, but more often than not, having an all-rounder in the top 6 of any side makes it a very strong lineup. Hafeez has been a highly trusted batsman for Pakistan and his experience is something the team would greatly benefit from.

#7 Hardik Pandya

Kunf
Kung Fu Pandya

Every Indian cricket fan would probably have that innings of Hardik Pandya in the Champions Trophy 2017 final etched in his/her heart. Hardik took the Indian side from a daunting and hopeless position to a counter-offensive and hopeful position, as he started to hit big sixes, often 3 of them in a row, right when the team had lost 6 wickets under 100 runs.

He has the ability to hit the ball very hard, can bowl a few overs of seam in the middle and is a brilliant fielder. The package and the options junior Pandya brings in to a side are invaluable. He might get out early while trying to slog and may also get hit while bowling, but on his day, he will make each of the opposition's bowlers pay.

He has proven himself as a genuine all-rounder by picking crucial wickets in the middle overs in some of the most critical times, such as the India-Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup 2016, where he picked 3 wickets for just 8 runs in 3.3 overs.

No matter how he performs with the bat and ball, he is certain to give his 100% while fielding, thereby saving important runs and also taking tough catches.

#8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Australia v India - Game 1
Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Mr. Swing of the Indian bowling lineup. One of the most consistent bowlers in India, Bhuvi has created a niche for himself as a seam bowler. He has the genuine ability to swing the ball both ways and trouble the batsmen, and can also bowl excellent yorkers at the death to curb the flow of runs. With his excellent abilities as a bowler and the ability to bat at the tail, Bhuvi is a big asset to India and to any team he represents.

#9 Kuldeep Yadav

England v India - 1st ODI: Royal London One-Day Series
Kuldeep in his heroics against England

India, being a team from the subcontinent, has its strength in spin. The country has always produced quality spinners who have troubled non-subcontinental batsmen and that is why it is very obvious that this team will play 2 spinners.

Kuldeep Yadav has been mightily successful in picking those crucial wickets in the middle overs and not letting the opposition get good partnerships. With his unusual china-man action, Kuldeep has successfully tricked several batsmen into getting out LBW. His first and only ODI hattrick came against Australia last year when he tricked the Aussie Batsmen and got them out with his mystery spin.

One of the most talented and skillful spinners, Kuldeep does have lots to offer. Apart from the regular chinaman, he can bowl the wrong-un or googly as well as the flipper quite comfortably. However, his strength and secret to success have been bowling his stock delivery consistently and always looking to pick wickets.

#10 Mohammad Amir

India v Pakistan - ICC Champions Trophy Final
Amir in India v Pakistan - ICC Champions Trophy Final

The man who made Indian batsmen look apologetic by ripping apart the Indian top order in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Mohammad Amir has become an exceedingly tough nut to crack for batsmen all over the world. He has pace and can also swing the ball while bowling in the right areas.

The way he has returned to International cricket since the 2016 Asia Cup, claiming wickets from his very first over and announcing himself as a deadly fast bowler who could not be taken lightly, Amir is today considered one of the best fast bowlers in the world.

The most substantial validation coming from Virat Kohli himself, who was quoted saying that Amir is the best and most challenging fast bowler he has faced in the recent years.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

Australia v India - Game 1
Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah has made it to the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings for bowlers, and rightly so, as he has been thoroughly consistent and effective. He has taken up the role of bowling with the new ball very well and also specializes in the field of death bowling.

Initially considered for the T20 format due to his bowling prowess in the death and the ability to bowl yorkers at will, Bumrah has now become an ODI regular for India. He has learnt to bowl in almost all situations and phases of an innings.

In the context of this team, he can support Mohammad Amir and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the initial overs and can also bowl with great intensity at the death, with yorkers and slower deliveries at his disposal.

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Edited by Vignesh Ananthasubramanian