India XI vs World XI Team Players List: India 11 vs World 11 Players and Full Squad Update

The India XI vs World XI team players list has become one of the biggest questions around the proposed match being discussed for BCCI’s centenary celebrations. Fans are already searching for the India squad, World XI stars and whether names such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could be involved, but the official teams have not yet been selected.

There is another important detail behind these searches. India have never played an official international match against an ICC World XI, so there is no previous India XI vs World XI Playing XI that can simply be carried forward. World XI teams have appeared against other international sides, though, and several Indian cricketers have represented either an ICC World XI or Asia XI in such special matches.

That makes the India XI vs World XI players story more interesting than a simple predicted squad. There is a genuine history of World XI cricket stretching across different eras, while the proposed India versus Rest of the World XI contest would create a new chapter if it becomes part of BCCI’s 100-year celebrations.

As of October 2026, BCCI has not announced the date, venue, format or India 11 vs World 11 players for the proposed match. The centenary programme is expected to begin in December 2027 and continue through 2028, so the final player pool could look quite different by the time the fixture is organised.

India XI vs World XI Team Players List: What Is Confirmed?

The first thing readers need is a clear separation between confirmed information and possible selections. No official India XI or Rest of the World XI squad has been released, which means any complete 15-member team currently circulating online is a prediction rather than an announced squad.

The format could have a major influence on selection as well. A T20 exhibition could favour explosive white-ball specialists, while an ODI-style match could open the door for a different combination of experienced players, and a longer format would change the balance again.

This is why an India XI vs World XI team players list should not currently present Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah or any overseas star as a confirmed selection. These are natural names for fans to discuss, but discussion and official selection are two different things.

The same applies when the search is reversed to World XI vs India XI players or World 11 vs India 11 players. There is currently no confirmed squad from either side, and the first genuine player list will only arrive after the match itself moves beyond the planning stage.

Readers looking for the timing side of the story can follow the separate India 11 vs World 11 2026 Schedule page. Keeping the schedule and players pages separate allows this article to concentrate on squads, selection possibilities and the history of World XI teams without repeating the same information.

One of the biggest questions will be what BCCI means by an India XI for a centenary match. It could be a current national-strength team, a combination of current and celebrated players, or a special selection created specifically for the occasion, depending on the format and status eventually given to the game.

The Rest of the World XI raises even more possibilities. Instead of representing one country, it could draw players from Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and other major cricket nations, making availability across the international calendar one of the hardest parts of assembling the team.

Indian Players Who Have Already Featured in Major World/Asia XI Matches

India may not have faced ICC World XI in an official international, but Indian cricketers have been involved in World XI-related cricket before. That distinction is important because it gives us real historical names without pretending that an India-vs-World-XI rivalry already exists.

In January 2005, an Asia XI played ICC World XI in a tsunami-relief ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Sourav Ganguly captained Asia XI, while Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble were among the Indian players in a team containing leading cricketers from across Asia.

Sehwag and Dravid subsequently represented the ICC World XI against Australia in the 2005 Super Series. That series included three ODIs followed by a Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, putting two Indian batters alongside some of the biggest international players of that generation.

Sehwag produced one of the stronger World XI batting performances in the Test, scoring 76 in the first innings. Dravid was also part of that World XI, alongside players including Graeme Smith, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff, Mark Boucher, Daniel Vettori, Steve Harmison and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Dinesh Karthik later represented ICC World XI against West Indies at Lord’s in 2018. Mohammed Shami had also been named as a replacement in the World XI squad before the match, although he did not appear in the final playing XI, which is exactly why squad members and players who actually took the field should not be mixed together.

Hardik Pandya had originally been selected for that 2018 World XI squad but withdrew before the match. Again, that makes him historically connected to a World XI selection, but not a player who actually represented World XI on the field in that fixture.

This distinction gives readers a much cleaner answer than simply putting every announced or proposed name into one giant table. When we say a player played for World XI, it should mean he actually appeared in the XI; when he was only selected in a squad and later withdrew or did not play, that should be stated separately.

World XI Players Through the Years

The term World XI has been used for different representative teams over cricket history, so not every exhibition World XI should be treated as the same official side. For the proposed BCCI match, the most useful comparison is the ICC World XI that has played international-status matches in the modern era.

One of its most memorable appearances came in the January 2005 tsunami-relief ODI against Asia XI. Ricky Ponting captained a World XI containing stars from several countries, and the match showed exactly how a Rest of the World team can combine players who would normally be international opponents.

ICC World XI vs Asia XI, 2005

That was an extraordinary group even by World XI standards. Ponting scored 115, Lara made 52 and Cairns contributed 69 as World XI reached 344/8 before dismissing Asia XI for 232, giving the representative side a 112-run victory.

Later in the same year, the ICC Super Series created an even deeper World XI pool for matches against Australia. Unlike a one-night exhibition, the series involved three ODIs and a Test, allowing several different combinations of the World XI squad to appear.

Major ICC World XI Players vs Australia, 2005

Not every one of these players appeared in every match, which is another reason historical World XI data needs context. The side was selected from an elite international pool and combinations changed across the three ODIs and the Test depending on conditions and team balance.

The 2005 Super Series did not produce the results World XI would have wanted. Australia swept the three ODIs and then won the Test by 210 runs, but the matches remain important because they brought players such as Sehwag, Dravid, Lara, Kallis, Flintoff, Sangakkara and Muralitharan into the same representative setup.

World XI cricket returned in a very different context in 2017. A three-match T20I Independence Cup against Pakistan was staged in Lahore, with Faf du Plessis captaining an international group assembled from several countries.

World XI Players vs Pakistan, 2017

The World XI lost the three-match series 2-1, but the tour had significance beyond the scoreline because it formed part of the gradual return of international cricket to Pakistan. The squad itself also showed how a modern World XI can be built around players from a wide range of countries rather than simply choosing the eleven biggest batting names.

The most recent official ICC World XI international came against West Indies at Lord’s in May 2018. That game was organised to raise funds for Caribbean grounds damaged by hurricanes, and once again the team brought together players who would normally represent different national sides.

ICC World XI Playing XI vs West Indies, 2018

Thisara Perera was the standout World XI batter with 61 from 37 balls, but West Indies won comfortably after making 199/4 and dismissing World XI for 127. Shahid Afridi led the World XI after changes to the originally announced squad, while the final playing combination also included India’s Dinesh Karthik.

That match is particularly useful when discussing the future World XI vs India XI team players list because it demonstrates how quickly a representative squad can change. Eoin Morgan was initially named captain, while withdrawals and replacements altered the eventual team before the first ball was bowled.

For that reason, even after a squad for the proposed BCCI centenary match is announced, TeamStats should keep the player table marked as “squad” until the toss. Only then should the final eleven be labelled the India XI vs World XI Playing XI.

Who Could Be Considered for India XI vs World XI?

There is a strong temptation to turn the current India side into a predicted India XI, but a match associated with 2028 celebrations is too far away for that to be reliable. Players can retire, lose form, suffer injuries or move in and out of individual formats before the centenary fixture takes place.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will naturally remain two of the most searched names around the event. Neither has been confirmed for the match, and their involvement would depend heavily on the date, format, fitness and whether the fixture is organised as a conventional representative match or a more flexible exhibition.

Readers interested in Kohli’s career record can use Virat Kohli Stats, while the same detailed career breakdown for Rohit is available through Rohit Sharma Stats. Their statistical importance to Indian cricket is established, but that should not be turned into a claim that either man is already selected.

Shubman Gill is another obvious name that readers may associate with a future India XI because of his position in India’s current setup. His numbers can be followed separately on Shubman Gill Stats, but his place in the centenary team remains just as unconfirmed as every other player’s.

Instead of publishing a fake squad, the more useful approach is to identify the types of players India would need if the match goes ahead. A balanced XI would require specialist top-order batting, middle-order stability, at least one wicketkeeper, all-round options, pace and spin rather than simply selecting eleven famous names.

The World XI players would require an even wider selection process. Organisers would first need to know which international boards can release players, whether the fixture overlaps with bilateral series or franchise tournaments, and whether recently retired stars would be eligible for a special centenary event.

A genuine World XI could therefore be more interesting than a simple current ICC ranking exercise. Team balance, national representation and availability would matter alongside reputation, particularly if organisers want the team to reflect cricket across several regions.

There is also the question of Pakistan players. Historical World XI teams have included Pakistan stars such as Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, so there is precedent for players from Pakistan appearing in representative world teams.

Afghanistan has a similar modern connection through Rashid Khan, who played for ICC World XI in 2018. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane also appeared in that game, demonstrating that World XI selection has not always been restricted to players from cricket’s largest boards.

That history could become relevant if the BCCI centenary match is designed as a true celebration of international cricket. But until selection criteria are announced, there is no factual basis for claiming that any particular country has been guaranteed a certain number of places.

India XI vs World XI Players: Key Questions

Who are the India XI vs World XI players?
The official India XI vs World XI players have not been announced. BCCI’s proposed India versus Rest of the World XI fixture remains at an early planning stage, with the match date, venue, format and squads still to be finalised.

What is the India XI vs World XI team players list?
There is currently no official India XI vs World XI team players list. Lists containing a complete India XI and World XI at this stage are predictions unless they are clearly labelled otherwise.

Who are the India 11 vs World 11 players?
No India 11 vs World 11 players have been officially selected for the proposed centenary match. The final squads will depend on the match format, schedule and player availability closer to the event.

Has India ever played World XI before?
India have not played an official international against ICC World XI. Indian players have, however, appeared in representative teams: Sehwag and Dravid represented ICC World XI in the 2005 Super Series, while Dinesh Karthik played for World XI against West Indies in 2018.

Which Indian players played for Asia XI against World XI?
In the 2005 tsunami-relief ODI, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble were among the Indian players representing Asia XI against ICC World XI.

Which Indian players have played for ICC World XI?
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid played for ICC World XI during the 2005 Super Series against Australia. Dinesh Karthik appeared for ICC World XI against West Indies in 2018, while other Indian players have been selected in World XI squads without necessarily appearing in the final XI.

Will Virat Kohli play for India XI against World XI?
Virat Kohli has not been officially selected. His availability would depend on the date, format, fitness and the nature of the proposed centenary fixture.

Will Rohit Sharma play India XI vs World XI?
There is no confirmation that Rohit Sharma will play. Like Kohli, his involvement cannot be established until the organisers announce the match format and squad.

Who will captain India XI and World XI?
Neither captain has been announced. The captaincy choices should become clearer only after the squads and format are finalised.

When will the India XI vs World XI players list be announced?
There is no squad-announcement date yet. The proposed match itself still requires final details, so player selections are likely to come considerably closer to the fixture.

The history behind World XI cricket makes the proposed BCCI centenary match much more than an imaginary fantasy team. Ponting, Lara, Gilchrist, Gayle, Warne, Kallis, Flintoff, Sangakkara, Muralitharan, Sehwag, Dravid, Amla, du Plessis, Afridi and Rashid Khan are among the elite names associated with modern World XI cricket in different periods.

But the future India XI vs World XI team players list should be treated as a completely new selection rather than an extension of those historical teams. India have never faced an ICC World XI in an official international, while BCCI’s proposed centenary contest still has no confirmed squads.

That gives this page a clear job going forward. When the first official squad announcement arrives, the historical tables can remain intact while a new India XI and World XI squad table is added at the top, followed by the final Playing XI only after it is officially confirmed.

Until then, readers searching for India XI vs World XI players, India 11 vs World 11 players, World XI vs India XI players or World 11 vs India 11 players should get the same straightforward answer: the proposed match is real enough to be under discussion, but the player lists circulating before an official announcement are not confirmed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rajani Kant

Cricket Writer & Editor at TeamStats.in

Rajani Kant is a cricket writer and editor at TeamStats.in, covering cricket statistics, team records, player performances, match results and important developments from international cricket. His focus is on presenting cricket information in a clear, useful and easy-to-understand format.

Visit TeamStats.in →