Virat Kohli Snubbed in Rahane's All-Time Test XI, Sparking Debate on Legacy

Virat Kohli's absence from a former teammate's all-time India Test XI has become the biggest talking point in Indian cricket circles this week. The legendary batter was left out of Ajinkya Rahane's personal selection, a move that has surprised many fans and sparked a wider conversation about his place in the pantheon of greats.

Rahane's XI Snubs Modern Greats

Freshly retired former India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane named his all-time India Test XI, but only from players he shared a dressing room with. His team featured MS Dhoni as captain and wicketkeeper, with Sachin Tendulkar occupying the number four batting spot. Rahane placed himself at five, opting for Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan as openers over Rohit Sharma. Alongside Kohli, modern pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah also missed the cut. Rahane, who retired in July 2026, explained that Dhoni was his first international captain, adding a personal layer to his choice. The selection has forced a direct comparison between the eras of Tendulkar and Kohli, two of the game's most prolific run-scorers.

Du Plessis Hails Kohli's Transformative Fire

Separately, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has detailed how Kohli's captaincy fundamentally altered India's identity abroad. Du Plessis, who both opposed and later played alongside Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said the Indian star's "very infectious intensity" made the team "harder to bully" on foreign tours. He recalled a specific Test on a dangerous Wanderers pitch where Indian batters, under Kohli's influence, refused to show any sign of pain or discomfort. Kohli's bullish style, obsession with fitness, and willingness to confront opposition chatter head-on ended a long period where touring sides felt they could psychologically unsettle India. His aggressive leadership, du Plessis argued, lifted the entire team's standard and changed opponents' perceptions for good.

The Debate Over Defining Greatness

Rahane's subjective exercise highlights the eternal debate in sports about how to measure greatness. Is it pure statistics, influence on results, or personal experience that defines an all-time XI? By limiting his pool to teammates, Rahane's list naturally reflects the players he shared his journey with from 2013 onwards, a period that overlapped with the tail end of Tendulkar's career and the prime of Dhoni's leadership. The discussion has spilled over to social media, where fans are passionately comparing the merits of different generations, a debate with no single right answer but plenty of heat.

• Notable Omission: Ajinkya Rahane's all-time India Test XI, picked from teammates, did not include Virat Kohli, with Sachin Tendulkar chosen instead.
• Leadership Praise: Faf du Plessis credits Kohli's aggressive captaincy with making India a mentally tougher side to face on overseas tours.
• Personal Criteria: Rahane selected MS Dhoni as captain because he was his first international skipper, showing how personal experience shaped his picks.
• Retirement Context: Rahane announced his retirement from all cricket in July 2026, making this selection a reflective look back on his career.

The conversation around Kohli is now split between appreciating his undeniable past impact, as echoed by du Plessis, and parsing his current standing in historical lists. With no active cricket involving the star batter detailed in these recent stories, the focus remains firmly on his enduring legacy and the mark he has left on the game's narrative.