Senior England all-rounder Ravi Bopara included three Indian players – all batsmen – in his all-time XI. Bopara, who was part of England’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad, was asked to pick his best XI; the video of the same was uploaded in 2017 on the YouTube channel of Lord’s Cricket Ground.
At the top, Bopara goes with Virender Sehwag, “purely the fact that how aggressive he was”. To partner Sehwag is David Warner, to get the left-right combination at the top. At number 3, Bopara picked Sir Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (wk), who he said was “one of the best I have seen”.
The England all-rounder had no doubt about who will take the number 4 position – Sachin Tendulkar, who he said is “the best player of all time in my eyes” and his cricketing hero growing up. Also, Virat Kohli finds a place at number 5 in this line-up. Bopara had said Kohli is arguably the best player currently.
The Essex player then opted for Jacques Kallis at number 6 in the all-rounder’s role. Bopara hailed Kallis as the best all-round cricketer ever to grace a cricket field. Next, Bopara had former West Indies captain and one of the greatest batsmen ever, Brian Lara, though out of his regular position, at number 7.
A left-field choice for captain, Bopara named Wasim Akram as the leader of his side. “One of the best left-arm seamers you’ll ever see,” the Englishman said of Pakistan’s leading international wicket-taker. Bopara explained why he chose Akram as the captain of his side: “I think Wasim Akram comes across as a good leader, has presence as well. I think he will lead by example.”
International cricket’s highest wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan, “the best spinner ever,” is in Bopara’s line-up.
Adding to his pace department, Bopara went for his compatriot James Anderson, who is the second-highest wicket-taker among pacers at the highest level. Deadly Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar is the eleventh man on Bopara’s teamsheet; he said Akhtar was the quickest bowler he had ever faced.
Ravi Bopara’s all-time XI:
Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, Wasim Akram, Muttiah Muralitharan, James Anderson, Shoaib Akhtar
Here’s the video:
Also Read: Chris Woakes Picked Only One Indian In His All-Time XI
