VVS Laxman picks his Dream India XI to take on Australia in Australia
Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman is known to every cricket fan as the “very very special” batsman. A part of the famed fabulous four who played for India, Laxman’s record against Australia is something to look up to, especially in Australia.
He picked his “Dream India XI” to take on Australia in Australia as a part of Star Sports’ idea under the title "Pick the best Indian team since 1985” to pick the best Indian team (ODIs) since 1985 to play Australia on their grounds before India faces Australia in the fifth and final ODI in Sydney on January 23.
According to them, the criteria for selection was - "Selecting the best India XI to take on Australia in Australia. All Indian players who have played in Australia since 1985 are eligible to be selected. Players to be selected for the following slots Top order (No. 1, 2 and 3), Middle order (No. 4 and 5), Finisher and All-rounder (No. 6 and 7), Spinner (No. 8), Fast bowlers (No. 9, 10 and 11)."
The wristy Hyderabad-born batsman also picked his "India Dream XI" to face Australia in Australia. Laxman picked former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly ahead of current captain MS Dhoni as the skipper of his “Dream India XI.”
Laxman didn’t hesitate to pick one of the best opening pairs in the limited-overs format by picking Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly as his team’s opening duo. At No.3, he picked the current Indian Test captain Virat Kohli, who has been in superb form in Australia in this tour.
In the middle order, he picked another Hyderabadi batsman, Mohammad Azharuddin. The former Indian captain is one of the most stylish batsmen the game has ever seen. At No.5, he picked Yuvraj Singh, who is currently in Australia for the three T20 matches.
The 41-year-old picked current Indian captain MS Dhoni as the wicketkeeper of his dream team. At No.7, he went for an all-rounder and unsurprisingly he picked country’s best ever all-rounder Kapil Dev.
The only spinner in his team is former Indian Test captain Anil Kumble. Kumble is also the highest wicket-taker in Test and ODI cricket for India. His leg-spin was more than useful on the fast and bouncy tracks of Australia.
As his frontline pace trio, Laxman picked Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan Ashish Nehra. Keeping in mind the wickets in Australia he went for three fast-bowlers.
He named Sourav Ganguly as the captain of his “Dream XI”.
VVS Laxman’s best India XI to take on Australia in Australia (ODIs) - Sourav Ganguly(Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(Wicketkeeper), Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra.