Babar Azam out, Shubman Gill in: Wisden’s current Test XI

Picking a World XI, and that too of the format, which has fewer games, can be a never-ending debate. However, Wisden has picked the best Test XI of the current period of world cricket, where they have kept four Indian players in the squad, including their captain, Shubman Gill, who took leadership like a duck to water.

The performance since September 2024 has been taken into account, where they have gone with three other players from the blue brigade, including Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah. In this period, India saw many ups and downs in the longest format of the game.

Gill and Pant among the batters: Why Wisden picked India’s captain and wicketkeeper

The opening slot of the XI has been booked for Australia’s Travis Head and New Zealand’s Tom Latham. Since September 2024, the former has smashed 1489 runs at 45.12 and a strike rate of 83.04, while Latham managed 1032 runs at 35.58 with four centuries in the same period.

Gill was chosen at number three in the best XI as he collected 1551 runs since September 2024, averaging 55.39 with seven centuries. Steve Smith’s average has dropped in the last two years to 48.46. Due to the availability of many players, Joe Root has been forced to bat at five, as the right-handed batter made 1901 runs at 47.52 in this period.

Rishabh Pant has been included as the wicket-keeper of the side. The southpaw has bagged 1454 runs at 44.06 with a strike rate of nearly 75 with his twin centuries at Leeds. Babar Azam of Pakistan hasn't been considered in the XI as he hasn't scored a single century in Tests for a long time.

Jadeja and Bumrah among the bowlers: Who earns a spot in Wisden’s attack

Ravindra Jadeja takes the number seven spot as the spin bowling all-rounder. He has scored 1124 runs at 43.23 with two centuries and picked 62 wickets at 30.83 since September 2024. Among the pacers, the first place goes to Mitchell Starc, who has taken 87 wickets in his last 19 games at 19.47.

South Africa’ Kagiso Rabada will bring the pace in the XI. The speedster played only nine games and managed to pick up 41 wickets at 21.7, claiming 9/72 against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Meanwhile, Matt Henry is at the tenth position with 57 wickets at 15.43.

How could one pick the best World Test XI without India's Jasprit Bumrah? He is the third-highest wicket-taker in his career with 75 scalps in 16 games at 17.86, thanks to the best figures of 9/86 at the Gabba.

Wisden’s current best Test XI-

Travis Head, Tom Latham, Shubman Gill, Steve Smith, Joe Root, Rishabh Pant (wk.), Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Matt Henry, and Jasprit Bumrah.