Former India batting great Cheteshwar Pujara was one of the best Test batters during his playing days. The38-year-old now works as a commentator and analyst after retiring. Pujara recently sat down with Cricinfo to pick the current best Test XI.
Aiden Markram and KL Rahul were named as the openers of the side. Markram has played 50 Tests and scored 3192 runs at an average of 35, with eight tons and 13 fifties. He played a key role with the bat in his side’s World Test Championship win over Australia in 2025. Rahul has been one of India’s best batters in the longest format since his debut in 2014 and has become a consistent run-getter in recent times.
The Indian legend included Joe Root and Steve Smith in the side, with both cricketers in the three and four slots. Root, who recently took over England’s Test captaincy, led the side to a huge win over Pakistan. The 36-year-old is also poised to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most Test runs. Smith, on the other hand, did reasonably well with the bat in the recently concluded Tests against Bangladesh.
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are also part of the side. Gill has grown as a Test batter and surpassed the 3000-run mark in this format on Sunday. Pant, known for his unorthodox shots with the bat, became the first Indian to smash 100 Test sixes during the first Test in Galle.
Cheteshwar also named his former India and Saurashtra teammate Ravindra Jadeja in his current Best Test XI. Jadeja recently became the fourth player to take 350 Test wickets and score 4000 runs.
Strong bowling line-up named by Indian legend
Coming to the bowlers, Pujara has named Australian trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon in the side. Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc, who recently picked 10 wickets against Bangladesh, is missing from the side. Cummins has picked 322 wickets in his Test career.
Lyon, who is in the twilight of his career, has managed 571 scalps from 143 games. Hazlewood is the most recent Aussie to join the 300-wicket club. The veteran seamer has also picked up 303 scalps from 78 matches.
The final bowler in the list is Indian ace jasprit bumrahwho has 234 wickets from 52 games. The 32-year-old is one of the best bowlers in the world across all formats and has been at the top of his game since his international debut in 2016.
Pujara’s current best Test XI
Aiden Markram, KL Rahul, Joe Root, Steve Smith, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Jasprit Bumrah, and Josh Hazlewood.