Cheteshwar Pujara's World Test XI: Five Indians Make the Cut

Cheteshwar Pujara has named a World Test XI that features five Indian cricketers across batting, wicketkeeping and bowling. The former India batter's selection reflects his assessment of current Test cricket talent and balances experience with contemporary form across multiple nations. Pujara opened his batting lineup with Aiden Markram of South Africa and KL Rahul of India, placing two established performers at the top of the order.

Markram has accumulated 3192 Test runs at an average of 35.46 and scored a century in the World Test Championship Final against Australia. Rahul has compiled 4270 Test runs at an average of 36.81 in his Test career. The middle order comprises Joe Root, Steven Smith, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, with Gill captaining India in the Test format and Pant serving as the wicketkeeper in Pujara's XI.

Ravindra Jadeja and Pat Cummins feature in the XI. Jadeja brings left-arm spin and lower-order batting depth, while Cummins provides fast-bowling and batting capability.

"This is on a normal track, but if the game is somewhere else, like England or Australia, then I might add a seamer or a fast-bowling all-rounder instead of Ravindra Jadeja," Pujara said in a video released by Cricinfo.

The bowling attack is completed by Nathan Lyon of Australia, Josh Hazlewood of Australia and Jasprit Bumrah of India, creating a balanced combination of pace and spin.

Pujara noted that Ben Stokes would have featured in his XI had the England all-rounder not retired from Test cricket. Surprisingly, Mitchell Starc, who took six wickets against Bangladesh, did not find a place in Pujara's team.

South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship champions, has only one representative in the XI through Markram, while India currently ranks fifth in the World Test Championship standings.

Pujara's selection of five Indian players reflects the strength of the country's current Test squad across batting, wicketkeeping and bowling disciplines. The XI balances experience with current form across multiple cricket nations, demonstrating how different teams contribute to the world's best Test performers at this moment in the sport.

Aiden Markram (South Africa), KL Rahul (India), Joe Root (England), Steven Smith (Australia), Shubman Gill (India), Rishabh Pant (India), Ravindra Jadeja (India), Pat Cummins (Australia), Nathan Lyon (Australia), Josh Hazlewood (Australia), Jasprit Bumrah (India).