Every captain has favourite & Mahi backed Raina during 2011 WC, says Yuvraj

New Delhi: Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh feels it’s common for any captain to have a favourite player and when it came to MS Dhoni, it was Suresh Raina, who had great backing from the former India captain.

(Photo: Twitter)

Both Raina and Yuvraj were both part of the team that Dhoni led to the 2011 World Cup title. Yuvraj played a crucial role in that World Cup and helped India lift the trophy after 28 years.

Yuvraj remembered how Dhoni faced selection dilemma when he had to choose between Yusuf Pathan and Raina in the playing XI during the 2011 World Cup.

“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 told ‘Sports Tak’.

“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.

“They did not have a left-arm spinner at that time and I was picking wickets, so they did not have any choice,” he added.

Yuvraj also showered praise on Sourav Ganguly and said it was the former Indian skipper, who nurtured his talent.

“Dada would be my favourite captain. Of all the Indian captains, he had supported me the most. Dada nurtured young talent. He had said then that he felt like there were 4-5 boys, who would help him make the team strong and he supported all of them,” he said. (UNI)