Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin only Indians to make the cut in Wisden's Test Team of the Decade

With the decade all set to end in a few days, the cricketing fraternity is busy with compiling the best teams and players of the decade. The soon-to-end decade saw most of the teams going through a transition phase as a number of big names retired from the game. The likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Andrew Strauss and several other big names brought down curtains on their illustrious careers.

But the decade also saw the rise of some world-class players and thus the world saw some really high level of cricket. And as the decade is about to end inside a week, Wisden named their Test team of the Decade. Two cricketers from India – current captain Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin – have made the cut for the star-studded side.

Kohli is currently the top-ranked Test batsman in the world and has been doing extremely well since taking charge as captain in 2015. Under him, India are at the top of the ICC Test rankings for more than three years now. Kohli has scored heavily irrespective of conditions or venues. He has already proved himself in South Africa, England and Australia.

On the other hand, Ashwin has been equally impressive with the ball. The off-spinner, who was the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016, has picked up a staggering 362 wickets in 70 matches in the last decade. He is one of the reasons why India have not lost a Test series at home since the loss to England in the 2012-3 season.

Rest of the Wisden Test Team:

Apart from two Indians, the team features three players each from England and South Africa. Two players from Australia and one from Sri Lanka have also made the cut. Alastair Cook and David Warner are the openers of the team and are followed by Kumar Sangakkara at number three. Steve Smith, Kohli and AB de Villiers have formed the middle-order of the team.

Ben Stokes is the only all-rounder in the playing XI. The bowling lineup consists of three pacers and one spinner. The pacers are – Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and James Anderson – while Ashwin is the only spinner.

Here is Wisden’s Test Team of the Decade:

Alastair Cook (England), David Warner (Australia), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Steve Smith (Australia), Virat Kohli (India), Ben Stokes (England), AB de Villiers (South Africa), R Ashwin (India), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), James Anderson (England)

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