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As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, a thrilling T20 showcase scheduled from July 18 to August 2, 2025, across four historic UK venues, the hype is real. Legends like Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan will rekindle iconic rivalries in this nostalgia-rich tournament. Amid the excitement, a lighthearted yet thought-provoking moment caught fans by surprise.
In a candid chat with presenter Shefali Bagga, Raina was given a deceptively difficult challenge: name his all-time World XI. What followed was as revealing as it was nostalgic. Raina handpicked legends spanning eras and continents, players he admired through his formative years and glorious career. Yet, one glaring omission overshadowed the rest: MS Dhoni, Raina’s close friend, mentor and long-time captain was left out.
Opening in style, Middle order mayhem – Suresh Raina’s dream batting arsenal
Raina kicked off his list with a star-studded opening pair: Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, describing them as the perfect blend of grace and dominance. Sachin, referred to as “Sachin Paji”, combined with Lara’s flair signaled an intent to bat in style and brutality. At number three was Sir Vivian Richards, the West Indian powerhouse whose aura and aggression defined a generation. Gary Sobers came in at four, chosen not just for his batting but also for eye-popping all-round genius.
Raina’s number five was close to home: Yuvraj Singh, his World Cup-winning teammate and a fellow southpaw known for big-stage fireworks. The sixth and seventh spots were reserved for classic English all-rounders: Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff, both revered for turning games with bat and ball. This top seven dripped with an all-era charm, mixing classical technique with game-winning aggression. Intriguingly, Raina didn’t name a designated wicketkeeper here. That choice, or lack thereof, raised eyebrows immediately. With a spotlight on explosive talents and all-rounders, the decision felt more emotional than systematic.
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Raina dials up the heat with four-spinner strategy
Moving beyond the star-studded batting core, Raina’s decisions echoed a bold, subcontinent-friendly mindset. When asked about bowlers, he explained cheekily, “It’s a bit hot in the summer,” making way for four legendary spinners instead of traditional pace-heavy attacks. Leading the rotation was the late, great Shane Warne, followed by two Indian icons, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who defined India’s spin legacy for over a decade. Next in was Saqlain Mushtaq, the Pakistan wizard known for introducing the ‘doosra’, adding mystery and menace to this elite quartet.
Notably, genuine fast bowlers like Wasim Akram, Brett Lee, or Glenn McGrath were left out, an unconventional move for a T20-themed format. The balance came from the presence of all-rounders Botham and Flintoff, who could deliver sharp medium-pace overs and stabilize the seam attack. But Raina wasn’t done surprising. For the ‘impact player’ role, akin to WCL’s new rulebook, he picked Paul Adams, the South African chinaman with a famously unorthodox bowling action. Presenter Shefali Bagga laughed in delight at Raina’s spontaneity, with Raina cheekily adding, “Or maybe Shefali could come in as the impact player!” The moment added humor to an otherwise calculated, spin-heavy, nostalgia-packed bowling unit.
A big omission of MS Dhoni
While his lineup had the wealth of cricket legacy covered, the absence of MS Dhoni made cricket fans instantly pause. No other keeper featured either—leading some to speculate whether Raina expected someone like Sobers or Yuvraj to keep wicket, or if he wanted this list to purely focus on those who moved him as cricketers, not necessarily in role-specific terms. The shock was heavier given Raina and Dhoni’s legendary friendship, forged during their time under Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and celebrated across countless match-winning partnerships. Raina has often spoken of Dhoni as his leader, guide, and older brother figure on and off the field. Regardless of interpretation, Raina’s XI became a conversation starter, turning a fun banter into a compelling narrative.
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