Suresh Raina’s World Playing XI: No MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli in the Team

Suresh Raina’s World Playing XI:  Former Indian star and 2011 World Cup winner Suresh Raina recently revealed his all-time World Playing XI during the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025. While fans expected modern Indian greats like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli to be featured, Raina surprised everyone by excluding them and focusing more on all-time legends and versatile all-rounders.

Lara-Tendulkar as Openers, Viv & Sobers in Middle Order

At the top of the order, Raina chose a legendary left-right combination: Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar. Both are widely regarded among the greatest batters in cricket history, and their opening combo brings a perfect blend of aggression and technique.

In the middle order, Raina selected the ever-dominant Sir Viv Richards, classy all-rounder Garry Sobers, and his long-time teammate Yuvraj Singh. This trio adds power, consistency, and flair to the batting line-up.

Heavy Spin Attack, Only Two Pacers

Interestingly, Raina opted for a spin-heavy attack with four frontline spinners: Shane Warne, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, and Saqlain Mushtaq. This choice reflects his trust in match-winning spinners who’ve turned games on all types of surfaces.

For pace, he included former English greats Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff, who are both capable seamers and handy with the bat. He also named Paul Adams, the unorthodox South African spinner, as his impact player.

Suresh Raina’s World Playing XI