In a recent special interview for Cricketcker, Afghanistan All -round Gulbadin Naib Its all-time India-Afghanistan United has presented a attractive glimpse in his cricket mind by revealing Xi. Selection, which is widely shared in social media platforms, is a bold and unconventional, especially India’s two most prestigious cricket icons, Rohit Sharma And MS Dhoni,
Gulbadin Naib’s all-time India-Afghanistan ahead of Asia Cup 2025
The team cured Naib, further Asia Cup 2025A clear strategic foundation is built, which begins with the choice of the openers. He explained his thought process to the top of the order, said: “I would like to go with left-right inaugural combination-Rammanullah Gurbaz and Yashsvi Jiswal to open the innings. Virat Kohli, Tilak Verma, Mohammad Nabi, and Hardik Pandya are the next to capture my XI,” This choice of combination of left-right hand extends to the mid-order, which provides balance and a challenge to oppose the bowlers.
The team has a malignant all -rounder core with experienced Afghanistan Mohammad NabiIndia’s dynamic Hardik Pandya, And a difficult choice between and Azmatullah Omrajai And Ravindra jadejaNaib also named his favorite bowlers, with a strong inclination towards his compatriot. He continued, “Rashid Khan will captain me. A player between Azmatullah Omrajai and Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder. Jasprit Bumrah, Mujib ur Rehman, and Naveen-ul-Haq are other players of my all-time XI.” By nominating Rashid as captain, Naib has strengthened his priority for a leader from his own country, displaying talent and depth of leadership within the Afghanistan squad.
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Absence of iconic Indian legends MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma
The most speaking aspect of Naib’s selection is undoubtedly the absence of two biggest names of Indian cricket, Rohit and Dhoni. While the choice of NAB was intentionally and based on specific team-building principles, the omission of such famous figures has led to an important debate. The decision to take Rohit on Rohit as a opener is a will for Naib’s preference for a modern, fearless approach, while the gurbaz’s choice as a wicketkeeper-better, replaces the legendary Dhoni, focuses on the present form and white-ball mobility.
The bold Kadam showcased his desire to take an unconventional decision against Naib’s independent thinking and popular opinion. His choice also shows a strong sense of pride in the cricketing talent of his country, as he gave spots to three Afghan bowlers, Mujib, Naveen and Captain Rashid, leaving other skilled Indian bowlers. As a result, XI is an attractive and conversation team that challenges traditional assumptions that are in the ‘All-Time’ squad.
Also read: Afghanistan unveils the initial squad ahead of the UAE T20I three-series and the Asia Cup 2025
