'Mahi really backed Suresh Raina, but they had no choice and picked me': Yuvraj Singh on his selection in the team

Be it the 2007 T20 World Cup or the 2011 World Cup, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh proved his abilities and edged his name in the history of cricket.

However being diagnosed with cancer, his career was never the same. In an interview with Sports Tak, Yuvraj spoke about how he was selected for the 2011 World Cup and how then captain MS Dhoni favored Suresh Raina.

Yuvraj spoke about the selection dilemma that arose before the final against Sri Lanka and on whom to choose between Raina and Yusuf Pathan. 

"Suresh Raina had 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," Yuvraj said.

"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 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."

During Dhoni's reign, Raina was one of the regulars in the Indian squad, however, his international appearances dried up since Virat Kohli took over. 

Raina's last played in the blue jersey in an ODI against England in July 2018. It was the only ODI series he was involved in that year and one of five international series he was part of in 2018. 

His last Test appearance came in the 2014/15 series in Australia which was also the one in which Dhoni retired from the longest format.