Living spin legend Shane Warne picked his greatest India Test XI for last two and a half decades. The team consists of players he has played against.

Shane Warne has continued his trend of naming the best XI from countries he has played against, turning the limelight on India this time with some surprise selections and omissions.

The spin legend has already named his greatest Test XI from countries including Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, but Warne with time off has returned to name perhaps his most eagerly anticipated side yet and arguably the most debatable.

Posting the team from his official Facebook account, Warne wrote, “As promised, here’s my greatest ever Indian test team. Remember I had to play against them……” 

With Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble being the shoo-ins, the other positions are mostly debatable. Surprisingly Zaheer Khan could not find a place in the leg-spinner’s team. VVS Laxman not in the playing XI and instead will carry drinks as 12^th man.

Warne: “The hardest position to select for me was the number 6 spot between my great friend VVS or Azharuddin.”

Warne finally preferred to Azharuddin in the XI and opted to have Laxman as the 12^th man.

“Hence I named 12 & would choose the 12th man on the day!”

The greatest leg-spinner’s dream team will be captained by Sourav Ganguly who is to bat at No.5 after Sachin at 4 and Dravid at 3, Sehwag and Sidhu being the openers.

Warne wrote on his Facebook page: “This was the hardest team to select as I played against a few legends at the end of their careers like Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjreker, Ravi Shastri, Manoj Prabhakar as well as current players like Zaheer Khan too. The Indian side I”ve selected is a very strong one & would be tough to play against.”

MS Dhoni is the obvious choice for the wicketkeeper-batsman while Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath to accomplish Warne’s bowling attack.

INDIA Test XI

1. Virender Sehwag
2. Navjot Singh Sidhu
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. Sourav Ganguly (C)
6. Mohammad Azharuddin
7. MS Dhoni (WK)
8. Kapil Dev
9. Anil Kumble
10. Harbajhan Singh
11. Javagal Srinath

VVS Laxman (12^th man)

Next, Shane Warne is expected to name his greatest combined Ashes XI, Sri Lanka Test XI and West Indies Test XI.