Suresh Raina, affectionately known as “Mr. IPL,” has revealed his all-time Chennai Super Kings (CSK) XI. In a popular podcast with host Shubhankar Mishra, Raina, who was a cornerstone of the franchise for over a decade, provided a captivating glimpse into his personal tribute to the team’s greatest players and their legacy of success.
CSK’s explosive batting order but no place for Dwayne Bravo
Raina’s squad is a tribute to both consistent performers and match-winners. He chose an explosive top order, featuring the likes of Matthew Hayden and Murali Vijay, whose aggressive starts were a hallmark of CSK’s early success. The legendary MS Dhoni was a non-negotiable inclusion, not just for his captaincy but also as a finisher and wicketkeeper.
Raina, who famously dominated from the number three position for years, also included himself. The batting lineup is further strengthened by the presence of Michael Hussey, a master of consistency, and Subramaniam Badrinath, known for his gritty middle-order contributions. For an all-rounder he picked Albie Morkel, highlighting his valuable contributions with both bat and ball in key moments. However one of the greatest T20 all-rounders Dwayne Bravo failed to find a spot in Raina’s team.
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Suresh Raina choose Shadab Jakati in a surprising move
The bowling unit reflects CSK’s strategy of building a balanced attack. The spin department is led by the legendary Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, a formidable pair whose spin magic has tormented batters for years.
In a surprising pick, Raina also included the unsung hero Shadab Jakati, acknowledging his crucial role in the team’s title wins in 2010 and 2011. The pace battery features the Australian left-armer Doug Bollinger and the Indian duo of Lakshmipathy Balaji and Mohit Sharma, both of whom had a significant impact with the franchise. As an “Impact Player” choice, Raina named the Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, whose guile and subtle variations would be a dangerous weapon on any surface. Notably Raina picked 13 players with Muralitharan as an impact player.
Here’s is Suresh Raina’s all time CSK XI:
MS Dhoni, Murali Vijay, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, Subramaniam Badrinath, Albie Morkel, Doug Bollinger, Shadab Jakati, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, LP Balaji, Mohit Sharma, Muttiah Muralitharan
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