India and Pakistan are two giants of world cricket who have produced world-class cricketers over the years and are still producing some of the best cricketers in the world. India is usually known as a batting paradise whereas Pakistan is a factory where fast bowlers are produced. When both the teams face each other, fans from both the nations are glued to their Television and never take their eyes off of the ongoing game.

Both the teams have had an upper edge over the other team in one way or another. While Pakistan have a better overall record in tests and ODIs, India are undefeated against Pakistan in World Cups. In Tests, Pakistan lead head-to-head with 12 wins, while India have 9 wins under their belt. In ODIs, Pakistan enjoy an unassailable lead as they have won 73 matches against India, while India managed only 55. India lead 6 wins to Pakistan’s 1 win in the shortest format of the game.

Test cricket has always been the real deal where the skills of a player are truly tested and only those survive who have the patience. India have always found it difficult to put together a world-class bowling unit while after the glory days of Pakistan, they have not put together a legendary batting unit. Had it not been for the partition, the Indo-Pak team would have ruled world cricket.

Here is the All-time greatest Indo-Pak test XI:

1. Virender Sehwag

The hard-hitting opener from Delhi takes the onus of opening the innings for the Indo-Pak XI. Sehwag has revolutionised the way test cricket is played and has played the game in one way only, no matter what the format is. In his days, he has taken the best of the best to the cleaners, no matter what the format was. His fearless approach overshadowed all his weaknesses which is why Sehwag found success in the oldest format of the game.

Virender Sehwag has given India explosive starts on multiple occasions which set the tone for the Indian innings. His approach has helped India out of difficult situations many times, despite him falling victim to his own approach a few times. Virender Sehwag is one of India’s best openers and undoubtedly makes it to the Indo-Pak test XI.

In test cricket, Virender Sehwag has scored over 8500 runs in test cricket at an average of slightly less than 50. Viru enjoys playing against Pakistan as he has scored over 1200 runs against Pakistan at an average of 91 in test cricket. Sehwag has scored 4 centuries against Pakistan in just 14 innings. He was one of the most successful Indian batsmen against the everlasting rivals, Pakistan.

2. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar is a name that every fan in the world is familiar with. He was the first even batting icon that India had produced. Before the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, it was Sunil Gavaskar who took the world by a storm with his batting. Sunil Gavaskar was that batting sensation of India who saved India and brought upon them a lot of pride for good fifteen years.

Gavaskar was also the first-ever batsman to score 10,000 runs in test cricket and he achieved this feat back in 1987, way ahead of our time. In his overall test career, Gavaskar has scored 10,122 runs at an average of 51, which shows how good the Mumbaikar was. Gavaskar faced some of the most fierce fast bowlers in his days and that too, without a helmet. He was consistent against the toughest of bowling line ups and was one of the few batsmen who performed against the invincible West Indies side.

Against Pakistan, Sunil Gavaskar was nothing less as he has scored over 2000 runs against the arch-enemies at a healthy average of over 56. His sheer class, consistency, and technique, made him one of the best batsmen of all time. It is impossible to leave the original little master out of the Indo-Pak Test XI.

3. Rahul Dravid

Another Indian batsman who would make it to the Indo-Pak Test XI is The Wall, Rahul Dravid. Most of the top bowlers found it difficult to bowl to the right-hander, especially because of the level of concentration he batted with. He could eat out sessions after sessions and help India out of any given situation. His skills and technique was second to none in test cricket and the amount of success he achieved is a proof of that.

Rahul Dravid’s patience was his biggest weapon and that was the key to India’s victories in test cricket. No other batsman has ever taken the #3 spot like Dravid did. He was rightly nicknamed Mr Dependable considering how India could always depend on him to score runs or to save them from a collapse. He was a versatile player who would do anything the team asked him to do. From batting at multiple positions to wicket-keeping, Rahul Dravid has done it all.

In test cricket, statistically, Dravid was one of the most successful batsmen in the world. He is one of the only 13 batsmen to score over 10,000 runs in test cricket. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31. Against the neighbours Pakistan, Rahul Dravid scored over 1200 runs at an average of just below 54. He would make it to any World XI and he makes it to our Indo-Pak XI without any debate.

4. Sachin Tendulkar

When you talk about any Playing XI, it is impossible to leave out the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar, out of it. Sachin Tendulkar is an automatic choice in all the XI’s you talk about, be it be all-time greatest Indian XI, or the greatest World XI, or Indo-Pak XI for that matter. Sachin Tendulkar is nicknamed “God of Cricket” and he has earned that tag through his batting.

You name any record in world cricket, whether it is in ODIs or in test cricket, it is highly likely that Sachin Tendulkar is the owner of that record. The Little Master has carried India on his shoulders for over two decades and is the heartbeat of the fans. His skill as a batsman, his class, his endurance, his technique, his patience, his wide range of shot selection, everything is just perfect which is why he is called the best batsman of all time by many.

In test cricket, Tendulkar has a mighty average of just below 54. He is the leading run-scorer in test cricket with 15,921 runs and nobody is going to break that any time soon. Against Pakistan, however, he never had the best of outings as Tendulkar averages just 42 against Pakistan and has scored over 1,000 runs. However, that does not stop him from making it to the Greatest Indo-Pak XI.

5. Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf is one of the best batsmen Pakistan ever produced and was as solid as a rock in the middle order. Mohammad Yousuf represented Pakistan for 12 years and in that period, he scored 24 centuries and 33 half-centuries for his nation. He was the backbone of Pakistan batting line up and it was always difficult to get him out.

Yousuf had a slow start to his career as he failed to score big for a year or so. However, after that, he found consistency and was a regular member of the Pakistan Cricket Team. In 2007, he broke the world record for most runs scored in a calendar year in test cricket, as he scored 1788 runs and overtook Sir Vivian Richards‘ record of 1710 runs.

In test cricket, Yousuf scored 7530 runs at an average of 52.29, making him a successful batsman in the format. He could bat at any position and usually batted at No.4 and No.5 for Pakistan. Against his arch-enemies, India, Mohammad Yousuf found a lot of success as he scored 1247 runs at an average of 49.88 against India. He would undoubtedly make it to the greatest Indo-Pak Test XI.

6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK)

If there is one thing that India and Pakistan, both failed to consistently find, it is a proper Wicket-keeper batsman. However, that changed when MS Dhoni made his international debut and helped India finally find a wicketkeeper who could bat as well. This is why MSD is an automatic choice in an all-time Indo-Pak XI.

The unorthodox batsman from Jharkhand has cemented his name in the history books as he is the only captain to win all the three ICC trophies. Not only that, he is one batsman who is capable of clearing the boundary, no matter how big it is. He is undoubtedly one of the best Wicket-keepers of all time and certainly, the best India produced.

In test cricket, he did not perform as good as he has in the One Day Internationals, but is still a top tier performer in the format. Dhoni represented India in 90 test matches and scored close to 5000 runs for his nation at an average of 38. Against Pakistan, MSD found a lot of success, despite playing less. He scored over 300 runs against Pakistan at an average of 64, making Pakistan his favourite opponents in test cricket.

7. Imran Khan (C)

If there is one man who has changed the phase for Pakistan, it is Imran Khan. He is the only Pakistan captain to win an ODI World Cup for the nation and he did it when nobody imagined him to pull it off. Under his leadership, Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, against all the odds and pulled off a miracle, thanks to their captain, Imran Khan.

The All-rounder made Pakistan one of the toughest cricketing nations, with his performances with the bat and ball as well as his aggressive captaincy. With the ball, he was a pace master as he could swing the ball both ways to a good effect, thanks to his stint in County cricket. Not only was he good with the ball, he was excellent with the bat as well and people would often call him a middle-order slogger.

He is one of the best All-rounders ever produced in world cricket and his numbers suggest the same. With the bat, he scored 3800 runs at an average of 37 whereas with the ball, he took 362 wickets at an average of just under 23. Against India, he was a man to beat as he scored over 1000 runs against them at an average of 52 and took 94 wickets against the same nation.

8. Kapil Dev

If it’s Imran Khan for Pakistan, it is Kapil Dev for India, who changed the phase of Indian cricket and brought faith in the heart of people and players. When India failed to produce any fast bowler who could make the bowling line up lethal, Kapil Dev was the one spitting fire at the opponents with his fast bowling. Kapil Dev is undoubtedly one of the most respected players to have ever played the game and the best fast bowling all-rounder produced by India.

In the 1983 World Cup, Kapil Dev led India to their first-ever World Cup and it was nothing less than a fairy tale. India won the world cup against all the odds and facing the mighty West Indies did not help the cause. However, Kapil Dev instilled a winning attitude in the players and had a belief, which each and every player honoured and led India to a victory. He bowled excellent out-swingers, making the batsman difficult to play him and with the bat, he would unleash carnage, even before the T20 era came into existence.

Kapil Dev has always been a prolific player with 434 wickets and over 5200 runs in test cricket at an average of just over 31. His batting was more than the stats because he was a hard-hitting all-rounder who was always sent in to get some quick runs. Against Pakistan, he scored over 1000 runs at an average of 27 whereas, with the ball, he took 99 wickets against them. He is easily making it to the All-time greatest Indo-Pak test XI.

9. Wasim Akram

The King of Swing, Wasim Akram is one of those players who played international cricket even before domestic cricket. He is a naturally gifted bowler, who also admitted that he did not know how to swing the ball, especially in his early days. However, as and when he started playing more and more, he was mounting to success. He is also the only pacer in the world to take 500 wickets in One-day cricket.

Wasim Akram is widely regarded as the best pacer in the world and his in-swinging yorkers were nothing less than death for the batsmen. Even on the dead tracks, Wasim always found a way to provide Pakistan with an early breakthrough. He led Pakistan’s bowling line up for years and made Pakistan’s bowling a strong force to toy with. Many know him only as a bowler, but he was a handy batsman as well, especially down the order.

With the ball, Wasim Akram took 414 wickets at an average of 23.62 whereas with the bat, he scored close to 3000 runs, including a double century. Against India, Akram took 45 wickets at an average of 28. With the bat, he was not as good as he managed to score less than 300 runs against India at an average of just under 20. All in all, Wasim Akram would definitely be the ace pacer in an Indo-Pak XI.

10. Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble is undoubtedly India’s greatest spinner and funnily enough, he did not turn the ball much. He did not move the ball miles like Shane Warne or create a web around the batsmen like Muttiah Muralitharan, he still managed to bag 619 wickets in test cricket. India had always missed a good pacer in the bowling line up, and that is why the responsibility was always on Jumbo’s shoulders to get those breakthroughs for India.

Anil Kumble is only the second bowler in world cricket to take 10 wickets in an innings and he did so against Pakistan. Start of Kumble’s career was not as good and he did not get immediate success. He came into the limelight after he took 18 wickets against South Africa, in South Africa and the home series against England where he took 21 wickets in just 3 matches.

In his career, Anil Kumble took 619 test wickets at an average of slightly less than 30. He also scored a century against England in England. Jumbo has also been successful against Pakistan with the spinner taking 81 wickets against the neighbours. He is, therefore, the only spinner in the team and leads the spin attack amidst the greatest mix of fast bowlers.

11. Waqar Younis

Lastly, another pacer which directly makes it to all-time Indo-Pak XI is Waqar Younis. Thanks to those pacy reverse swing deliveries, Waqar Younis made his impact felt instantly. Together, him and Wasim Akram toyed with every batting line up in the world and destroyed those line ups. Waqar always bowled full and fast, trying to target the toes of the batsmen.

Waqar was one of the only few bowlers who were as lethal with the old ball as they were with the new one. The reason behind that is how he would target his opponents’ toes and get them to give their wicket to him. He was also termed as ‘ The Toe Crusher ‘ thanks to the toe crushing deliveries he would bowl at the batsmen. He also had the best strike rate back in the day, before Dale Steyn broke took over the record.

Waqar Younis took 373 wickets in test cricket at an average of 23 and a strike rate of just 43. Having a strike rate of 43 is simply insane, especially in test cricket. Against India, however, Waqar did not perform as good as he usually did against other teams. Waqar could only scalp 8 wickets against India at an average of close to 50. That does not, however, his position in the all-time greatest Indo-Pak XI.