Waqar Younis Names Combined India-Pakistan Cricket XI
The cricket legend shared his dream team picks during a recent rapid-fire interview segment.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Tennis
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Cricket legend Waqar Younis has unveiled his combined India-Pakistan dream team, choosing a roster dominated by Indian stars. His selections include iconic players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni over their respective Pakistani counterparts.
Why it matters
As a former pace bowling icon, Younis maintains significant influence in cricket circles, making his subjective comparisons between historical and active legends a subject of intense fan interest. These choices highlight the ongoing debate regarding the comparative talent pools of the two rival nations.
Waqar Younis finished his career with 373 Test wickets and 416 ODI wickets, including 45 wickets against India. His selection, Jasprit Bumrah, holds a career Test bowling average of 19.7 and a strike rate of 42.8.
The players
Waqar Younis
He is a legendary former Pakistani fast bowler who is widely considered one of the greatest pacers in the history of the sport.
Jasprit Bumrah
He is a premier Indian fast bowler known for his unique action and exceptional record in Test cricket.
The details
During an appearance on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, Younis preferred Rahul Dravid over Younis Khan and Saeed Anwar over Virender Sehwag. He notably declined to make a selection between emerging talents Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sameer Minhas.
Timeline
2018: Jasprit Bumrah reached 50 Test wickets in 11 matches.
2019: Jasprit Bumrah secured a Test match hat-trick.
2024: Jasprit Bumrah earned the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year award.
2024-25: Bumrah recorded 32 wickets during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Season Trajectory
These player comparisons reflect the ongoing debate surrounding historical supremacy within the context of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. By evaluating modern stars like Bumrah against past legends, the analysis highlights the evolving standards of excellence in the current test cycle.
Fans can view these selections as a benchmark for comparing the career impact of modern bowlers like Bumrah versus historical greats. The preference for Indian talent in his lineup underscores the current statistical dominance seen in recent test series results.
The takeaway
Expert selections like these offer fans a way to contextualize the performances of current athletes against the backdrop of historical greats. When evaluating your own dream teams, consider how career longevity and strike rates provide a clearer picture than just raw wicket totals.
Further reading
For more on international athletic rankings and historical comparisons, visit the Tennis section.
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Is it possible to fairly compare cricket players from different generations?
