Pat Cummins picks his all-time India-Australia ODI XI ahead of AUS vs IND series

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As anticipation builds for the 2025 Australia vs India ODI series, Australian pacer Pat Cummins has stirred excitement by revealing his all-time combined ODI XI on Star Sports. The World Cup-winning captain, known for his analytical cricketing mind, made it clear that his list would feature only retired players, hence the absence of modern-day stars such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Travis Head and Cummins himself.

Cummins’ selection leans heavily on Australia’s golden generation of one-day dominance between 1999 and 2007, while also celebrating India’s ODI icons who defined the sport’s biggest stages. The inclusion of names like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan highlights his appreciation for India’s influence on global cricket, particularly during their 2011 World Cup triumph.

Cummins shared detailed insights into his thought process behind choosing each player.

On Tendulkar and Warner: “Both could dominate any bowling attack in their eras,” Cummins remarked, crediting Tendulkar’s classical stroke play and Warner’s fearless aggression as a dream combination for opening the innings.

On Dhoni: Calling him “the ultimate finisher and leader,” Cummins praised MS Dhoni for his unmatched composure and for steering India to the 2011 World Cup title.

On Ponting: He hailed Ricky Ponting as “the epitome of Australian competitiveness,” entrusting him with the captaincy of the dream XI for his leadership and match-winning consistency.

David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Michael Bevan, Steve Smith, MS Dhoni (wk), Shane Warne, Zaheer Khan, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee.

The combination blends explosive batting depth, versatile all-round options, and a lethal bowling attack – symbolizing the finest talents the two cricketing giants have produced over the decades.

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While his all-time XI has drawn global attention, Cummins also confirmed he will miss the upcoming ODI series against India due to a lower back stress injury sustained earlier in 2025. With the Ashes looming large in November, the Australian management has opted to rest him as a precaution.

In his absence, Mitchell Marsh will step in as captain, leading an Australian side eager to maintain their strong record at home. Cummins expressed optimism about returning fully fit for the Ashes series starting November 21 in Perth.

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