MS Dhoni among 3 Indians in Pat Cummins combined India-Australia ODI XI; no Virat Kohli, heres why
Australia skipper Pat Cummins snubbed Virat Kohli as he recently picked his India-Australia combined XI. Cummins picked only three Indians in his team.
Australia captain Pat Cummins snubbed Virat Kohli as he named his all-time combined India-Australia ODI XI. Cummins named only three Indians as he picked an Australia-heavy legendary side. The Australian Test and ODI captain will not take part in the upcoming white-ball series against India as he is currently recovering from an injury.
Nonetheless, Cummins has been heavily involved in the build-up to the much-anticipated white-ball series between the two top teams and has featured in multiple promo videos. India and Australia will play three ODIs followed by five T20Is in the white-ball series which gets underway on October 19.
Ahead of the series, the broadcaster caught up with the Aussie skipper, asking him for his all-time India-Australia combined XI. Cummins snubbed Kohli as he clarified he would only be picking players from the past from both countries. Only three Indians - Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan made the cut as Cummins leaned heavily towards his countrymen in the side.
Cummins picked former Australia opener David Warner to open the batting alongside the legendary Tendulkar. He named Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith and Shane Watson as his no.3, 4 and 5. In the finisher's role, Cummins picked Michael Bevan and named Dhoni as the wicket-keeper batter in the side. His bowling attack featured the legendary Shane Warne and an impressive pace trio of Brett Lee, Zaheer Khan and Glenn McGrath.
Pat Cummins' all-time India-Australia combined XI:
David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Michael Bevan, MS Dhoni (wk), Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Zaheer Khan, Glenn McGrath
India-Australia ODI series to kick off on October 19
The three-match ODI series between India and Australia will commence on October 19, with the first game scheduled to be played at the Perth Stadium in Perth. In the absence of Cummins, Mitchell Starc has returned to the ODI squad and will spearhead the pace attack consisting of Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett.
Australia will also miss the services of wicket-keeper batters Alex Carey and Josh Inglis for the ODI series opener in Perth. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill will lead India in the ODI series after taking over the baton from Rohit Sharma. It will be Gill's first ODI series as captain for India, and he will hope to get off to a winning start.
The ODI series against Australia will also mark the return of senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for Team India. The duo last played together in the Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year. Both batters will be looking to make a strong comeback amid questions over their futures in ODIs.