No Virat Kohli, No MS Dhoni: Suresh Raina Reveals His All-Time World XI; Picks 4 Indian Players

Former Indian All-rounder Suresh Raina picked his World XI, in which he excluded MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

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In a surprising move that stirred debates among fans, former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina unveiled his all-time World XI, leaving out two of India’s most iconic cricketers, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. The announcement came ahead of his participation in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, where he continues to play alongside Indian greats.

Raina’s Star-Studded World XI

Raina’s list reflects his admiration for classic cricketing legends and all-rounders who changed the game. His selected XI features a heavy dose of spinners and includes four Indian cricketing legends, but curiously misses out on two of the biggest names in recent Indian cricket history.

Here’s Suresh Raina’s World XI:

Openers: Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar

Middle Order: Vivian Richards, Gary Sobers

All-Rounders: Yuvraj Singh, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff

Spinners: Shane Warne, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Saqlain Mushtaq

Impact Player: Paul Adams 

No Place for Dhoni or Kohli

The omission of MS Dhoni, one of India’s most successful captains and a legendary wicketkeeper-batsman, raised quite a few eyebrows. Similarly, Virat Kohli, a modern-day great and one of the top run-scorers across formats, was also missing from Raina’s XI. Though Raina didn’t explain his reasoning, the decision has led to an avalanche of fan reactions across social media platforms, with many questioning the logic behind such exclusions.

WCL 2025 and the Legends’ League

Suresh Raina is currently participating in the WCL 2025 tournament as part of the India Champions squad, which includes other former stars such as Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and the Pathan brothers. The league has brought together legends from different cricketing nations, making it a nostalgic and entertaining spectacle for fans worldwide.