Bumrah as GK, Pant as LB: Shastri, Vaughan, Lloyd pick Indian cricket’s Football XI

By Moneycontrol Sports Desk | July 23, 2025

Image Credit: X

Ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester, the Indian men’s cricket team took a brief break from their training routine to explore the legendary training grounds of Manchester United.

Image Credit: X

The outing brought visible joy to the players and triggered a light-hearted discussion among former cricketers and analysts.

Image Credit: X

Imagining a crossover of sports, experts including Michael Vaughan, Ravi Shastri, Phil Tufnell, Alastair Cook, and David Lloyd playfully assembled a fantasy Team India football XI.

Image Credit: X

Using a traditional 4-4-2 formation, they placed Indian cricketers in football roles, basing their selections on the players’ personalities, physical traits, and on-field demeanour.

Image Credit: X

Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir

Strikers

Image Credit: X

KL Rahul (CDM), Ravindra Jadeja (LCM), Karun Nair (RCM), Yashasvi Jaiswal (CAM)

Midfielders

Image Credit: X

Nitish Kumar Reddy (RB), Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna (CBs), Rishabh Pant (LB)

Defenders

Image Credit: X

Jasprit Bumrah

Goalkeeper

Image Credit: X

Bumrah was chosen as the goalkeeper ahead of Pant, primarily due to his superior physical attributes.

Next: Andre Russell Retires: A Look Back at His International Journey
Thanks For Reading !
Find out More