"Every Captain Has A Favourite..": Yuvraj Singh Reveals MS Dhoni's Favourite Player During His Tenure

Yuvraj Singh, post retirement, has gone all guns blazing and surely does not likes to mince words. Yuvraj Singh contributed to the fore in ICC events though his form saw a drop after batting with cancer. After making his last international appearance in 2017, during India’s tour to the West Indies, Yuvraj Singh called time on his career after two years.

He is a relaxed man now, and will always be remembered as one of the finest all-rounders to have graced the game. In a recent interview with Sports Tak, Yuvraj Singh spoke about MS Dhoni’s favourite player and the selection dilemma for the former India captain ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

Suresh Raina had a larger support then, recalls Yuvraj Singh

Suresh Raina made his debut for India in 2005 and was an utility player. Yuvraj Singh said even though Raina was not in good touch ahead of the 2011 World Cup, then captain MS Dhoni backed him. The 2011 World Cup hero also said, like every captain has a favourite player, Raina was to Dhoni.

Talking about the selection dilemma ahead of the 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj Singh said, he and Yusuf Pathan were performing well and India did not have a left-arm spinner so they had to go ahead with him in the tournament.

“Suresh Raina had a larger support then, because MS used to back him. Every captain has a favourite player and I think Mahi really backed Raina at that time. 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,” Yuvraj Singh said in an interview with Sports Tak. 

Yuvraj Singh was adjudged the man-of-the-series in the 2011 World Cup for his all-round performance. He scored 362 runs in the marquee tournament at an average of 90.50 and picked up 15 wickets.