• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Buttler Named Captain Rohit Kohli Included In Nasser Hussains Ultimate World Cup Xi

Buttler Named Captain; Rohit, Kohli Included in Nasser Hussain's 'Ultimate' World Cup XI

image-lna6ck74Rohit Sharma alongside Virat Kohli in a frame (AP Photo)

Nasser Hussain sat down to pick his "ultimate" World Cup playing XI ahead of the 13th edition of the quadrennial event in India. The former England captain unveiled an outfit featuring the world's finest contemporary 50-over players, with the condition that he is allowed only one pick each from the 10 World Cup participants plus a wildcard entry. 

The leading commentator was undergoing an interesting exercise for English broadcaster 'Sky Sports', which shared the clip of Hussain picking his best possible active players' World Cup XI heading into the marquee tournament opener in Ahmedabad between defending champions England and New Zealand on Thursday (October 5). 



Hussain started off with a massive surprise as he picked Indian skipper Rohit Sharma ahead in the pack to modern-day maestro Virat Kohli. The cricketer then bolstered his side with a pick each from the rest of the nine countries qualified for the 2023 World Cup on Indian shores. 

From Afghanistan, Hussain named spin king Rashid Khan, who will be sharing spin bowling duties with rising Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and one of the world's premier spin allrounder and Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan in the commentator's side. 

Hussain's playing XI boasts of two leading quicks in Australian stalwart Pat Cummins and New Zealand’s experienced swing bowler Trent Boult, apart from young Bas de Leede, who is Netherlands' emerging fast-bowling allrounder and made a name for himself with spectacular performances at the global qualifiers in Zimbabwe. 

Hussain announced Jos Buttler, one of the most devastating limited-over players in the world, as his man to lead the ultimate World Cup playing XI and raised the side's profile with the inclusion of South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock and Pakistan's modern-day batting giant and captain Babar Azam alongside Rohit in the top-order. 

There was no spot vacant for ace Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah or the team's premier allrounder Hardik Pandya. But the biggest shock was Hussain preferring Rohit before Kohli amongst his choices. 

However, the former England skipper overcame the issue with the luxury of a wildcard entry, which helped him put Kohli in his rightful position at No.4. 


Nasser Hussain's World Cup XI

Rohit Sharma (India), Quinton de Kock (South Africa), Babar Azam (Pakistan), Virat Kohi (India - WC), Jos Buttler (England - C), Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Bas de Leede (Netherlands), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Pat Cummins (Australia), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka)