Former star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh revealed that middle-order batsman Suresh Raina was former captain MS Dhoni’s favourite player and had his strong backing.
Raina Was Not in Great Form But Got Selected For 2011 World Cup: Yuvraj
The two-time world cup winner recalls how Dhoni was in dilemma when he had to choose two out of the three players, him, Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan in the playing XI in world cup 2011.
Finally, the three players made it to the playing XI, though Pathan was dropped in the middle of the tournament.
“Suresh Raina had a lot of support then because MS used to back him. Every captain has a favourite player and I think Mahi really backed Raina at that time,” Yuvraj said told Sports Tak.
He also felt though Patan was playing well and Raina was not, he got selected. He also said as there was no left-arm spinner they had no choice but to pick him.
“Yusuf Pathan was also performing well at that time and even I was doing well and was also picking wickets. And Raina was not in a good touch then,” he said.
“They did not have a left-arm spinner at that time and I was picking wickets so they did not have any choice.”
The flamboyant batsman also revealed that the match-referee checked his bat with he hit six sixes off Stuart Broad’s over in 2007 T20 world cup if there was any illegal material used in it.
“World Cup Referee Of 2007 T20 World Cup Checked My Bat”
He recalled how the Australian coach at that time came to him and asked if there was fibre in his bat and if it was legal, and that Australian batsman Gilchrist enquired him who made his bats.
“The Australian coach at that time came to me and had asked if there was a fibre behind in my bat and asked if it was legal. Has the match referee checked it? So, I told him to get it checked.”
“Even (Adam) Gilchrist asked me who made our bats. So match referee had also checked my bat. But honestly, that bat was very special for me. I have never played with a bat like that. That one and the 2011 World Cup bat, they were special,” he added.
