Cheteshwar Pujara’s Humble Call: Picks Rahul Dravid Over Himself in India’s All-Time Test XI

By Swapneel Deshpande 23 May 2025, 11:56 IST

Pujara Picks Dravid Over Himself in All-Time Test XI

Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara recently appeared on Sports Tak‘s podcast Vikrant Unfiltered, where he was asked to name his all-time India Test XI. In a moment that perfectly summed up his humility and respect for the game, Pujara chose not to include himself at the crucial No. 3 position — instead, he handed that spot to the iconic Rahul Dravid.

“I’ve always looked up to him,” Pujara said. “He has been a better player, without any doubt.”

This gesture from Pujara has earned widespread praise from fans and cricketing circles alike, highlighting once again the understated grace of India’s modern-day Test warrior.

A Dream Opening and Middle Order

Pujara opened his XI with two legends of contrasting styles — Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag. While Gavaskar was the embodiment of discipline and technique, Sehwag brought fearless stroke play and explosive starts. At No. 3 came Rahul Dravid, the man who defined consistency and resilience for more than a decade.

At No. 4 and No. 5, Pujara chose Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. He clarified that the order was based on their debut years, with Tendulkar debuting before Kohli. VVS Laxman slotted in at No. 6, known for his elegance and clutch performances, especially against Australia.

Legendary Bowlers and a Captain Keeper

For the wicketkeeper’s role, Pujara picked MS Dhoni over Rishabh Pant, though he did mention that Pant has the potential to surpass Dhoni in the future. “Right now, it’s MS Dhoni, but I hope that at the end of Pant’s career, I may have to rethink,” Pujara said.

The bowling attack was a balanced mix of pace and spin: Kapil Dev brought vintage all-round value, Jasprit Bumrah added modern-day pace, while spin was handled by the ever-reliable Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin.