Former South African batter Hashim Amla has revealed his all-time Test XI, excluding Indian modern great Virat Kohli from the list. The decision comes as a surprise, given Kohli’s stature among the Fab Four. However, Amla included the remaining three — Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson — alongside several cricketing stalwarts. Two Indian icons, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, found places in the final lineup. Amla preferred Graeme Smith and Matthew Hayden as his opening pair. Both left-handers were dominant forces at the top, combining aggression with endurance. Smith amassed 9,265 runs in Tests, while Hayden accumulated 8,625 across 103 matches. At No. 3, Amla trusted Rahul Dravid, India’s "Wall," known for technical precision and mental fortitude. Dravid scored 13,288 runs in Tests, maintaining an average above 50. Australia’s Ricky Ponting occupied the No. 4 slot, having scored 13,378 runs, the third-highest in history. At No. 5, Amla chose Jacques Kallis, one of cricket’s greatest all-rounders and his longtime teammate. Kallis’ versatility with both bat and ball made him indispensable in South Africa’s golden era. Read also: Watch: Jemimah Rodrigues Takes a Screamer to Dismiss Beth Mooney Tendulkar, De Villiers, and a legendary bowling quartet complete XI At No. 6, stood Sachin Tendulkar, Test cricket’s leading run-getter with 15,921 runs. Amla then added his compatriot AB de Villiers as wicketkeeper-batter at No. 7, completing a balanced middle order. The inclusion of Tendulkar, Dravid, and Ponting offered immense experience and technical mastery, defining the classical Test structure Amla seemed to favor. The bowling attack reflected Amla’s inclination for balance between pace and spin. He picked Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne as the two spinners — the top two wicket-takers in Test history with 800 and 708 wickets, respectively. For pace, he went with Glenn McGrath and Dale Steyn, two bowlers who epitomized precision and menace. By omitting Kohli, Amla’s XI underlined an era-spanning respect for consistency and discipline over modern flamboyance — a team crafted with timeless durability rather than contemporary flair. Hashim Amla’s All-Time Test XI: Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers (wk), Shane Warne, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath