Every captain has a favourite & Suresh Raina had MS Dhoni's backing, says Yuvraj Singh

It is common for any captain to have a favourite player and when it came to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it was Suresh Raina, who enjoyed unstinted backing from former India captain, feels Yuvraj Singh. One of India's greatest limited-overs cricketers, Yuvraj remembered how Dhoni faced selection dilemma when he had to choose two out of him, Yusuf Pathan and Raina in playing XI during 2011 World Cup. "Suresh Raina had a lot of support n, 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 a news daily. 

'Every captain has a favourite'

Ultimately all three players made playing XI (although Yusuf was dropped from playing XI mid-tournament) with Yuvraj playing a pivitol role in winning title.

"Yusuf Pathan was also performing well at that time and even I was doing well and was also picking wickets. And Raina was t in a good touch n," he said.

"y did t have a left-arm spinner at that time and I was picking wickets so y did t have any choice," he added.

swashbuckling batsmen also revealed questions were raised over bat he used to famously hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over during 2007 T20 World Cup, leading match referee to check willow. " Australian coach at that time came to me and had asked if re was a fibre behind in my bat and asked if it was legal. Has 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 2011 World Cup bat, re were special."

Yuvraj was lavish in his praise for Sourav Ganguly for nurturing young talent and picked BCCI President as his favourite skipper. "Dada would be my favourite captain. He  supported me a lot, most. We were young also so he nurtured talent," Yuvraj said.