Cheteshwar Pujara names his all-time teammates XI, leaves out Dhoni and Rahane

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has unveiled his all-time teammates XI, a selection drawn from players he shared the dressing room with during his Test career spanning 2010 to 2023. The composition reflects his experience across more than a decade of international cricket, during which he played under multiple captains and witnessed the evolution of Indian Test cricket.

Pujara's XI features some of India's greatest batters and bowlers, though the absence of certain prominent names has already sparked discussion. Pujara described his selection as his best playing XI with the players he had played with. In an interview, he explained the rationale behind his choices and the constraints that shaped his final team.

The opening slots went to Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, while Pujara placed himself at number three in the batting order.

"I am putting myself at number three," he said on Cricinfo.

The middle order comprised Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and VVS Laxman, with Rishabh Pant selected as wicketkeeper. The bowling attack included Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, with Ishant Sharma named as the 12th man.

Also, I'll pick another seamer, which is Ishant Sharma at number 12. So, depending on the conditions, I might go with three seamers, and I haven't added a fast-bowling all-rounder, but if the need be, I might choose Hardik (Pandya) somewhere in that list," he added.

The biggest talking point from Pujara's selection

The biggest talking point from Pujara's selection is undoubtedly the absence of MS Dhoni, the former India captain and wicketkeeper who played a defining role in Indian cricket for nearly two decades. Dhoni's exclusion stands out given his stature in the game and his long association with the Indian team during much of Pujara's career.

Alongside Dhoni, the duo of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane also missed the cut, despite their significant contributions to Indian Test cricket. Pujara's choices reflect the depth of talent available to him rather than any reflection on the quality of those left out.