In a thrilling conclusion to the World Championship of Legends, the India Champions emerged victorious, defeating Pakistan by five wickets in a pulsating final on Saturday. The win, led by their skipper Yuvraj Singh, crowned India as the champions of the prestigious tournament. On the sidelines of this grand finale, Yuvraj Singh also unveiled his all-time XI, making some interesting choices and omitting some notable names.

India champions triumph in a nail-biter

The final saw the Pakistan Champions winning the toss and opting to bat first. They posted a competitive total of 156/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Kamran Akmal (24 off 19) and Maqsood (21 off 12) gave Pakistan a solid start, but regular wickets kept the scoring in check. The standout performer for Pakistan was Shoaib Malik, who anchored the innings with a crucial 41 off 36 balls. Captain Younis Khan failed to make an impact, being clean bowled by Irfan Pathan for just 7 runs. The middle order struggled, with Misbah-ul-Haq retiring hurt after a brisk 18. Late contributions from Sohail Tanvir (19* off 9) ensured Pakistan reached a respectable score.

The Indian bowling attack, led by Anureet Singh who claimed three wickets, was instrumental in containing Pakistan’s batting lineup. He received solid support from Vinay Kumar, Pawan Negi, and Irfan Pathan, each taking one wicket.

In response, India Champions started their run chase with intent. Despite losing Robin Uthappa early for 10, Ambati Rayudu’s explosive 50 off 30 balls set the foundation for the chase. Suresh Raina’s quick departure for 4 gave Pakistan a glimmer of hope, but a strong partnership between Rayudu and Gurkeerat Singh Maan (34 off 33) kept India on track.

Although both Rayudu and Maan fell in quick succession, the momentum stayed firmly in India’s favor. Yusuf Pathan’s blistering 30 off 16 balls was pivotal, and despite his dismissal in the penultimate over, India managed to secure the win with just a few balls to spare.

Yuvraj Singh’s all-time XI: No place for MS Dhoni

In a post-match discussion, Yuvraj Singh revealed his all-time XI, making some predictable yet fascinating selections. Starting with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting as the opening batters, Yuvraj placed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, respectively. At No. 5, he chose AB de Villiers, followed by Adam Gilchrist as the specialist wicket-keeper at No. 6.

Yuvraj’s bowling lineup was equally impressive, featuring Australian spin-bowling legend Shane Warne at No. 7 and Muttiah Muralitharan at No. 8. The pace department was filled by Glenn McGrath and Wasim Akram at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, while former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff took the No. 11 spot. When asked to name a special No. 12 player, Yuvraj humorously picked himself.

Yuvraj Singh’s All-Time XI: Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Andre Flintoff, Shane Warne, Mutttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram. Yuvraj Singh (12th man)

Notably, MS Dhoni, one of the most successful captains and wicket-keepers in cricket history, was absent from Yuvraj’s lineup, a decision that sparked considerable discussion among cricket enthusiasts.

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The India Champions’ victory and Yuvraj Singh’s intriguing all-time XI selection added an extra layer of excitement to an already memorable World Championship of Legends.