Mumbai: In a thrilling finale of the Championship of Legends, the India Champions emerged victorious over Pakistan by five wickets on Saturday. The nail-biting match saw India successfully chase down a target of 157, crowning them the champions.
Skipper Yuvraj Singh, who played a pivotal role in the win, also revealed his all-time XI, featuring some of cricket’s greatest names. Yuvraj’s selections include Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, highlighting his deep admiration for his compatriots.
Yuvraj’s all-time XI begins with Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting as the openers. Rohit Sharma takes the No. 3 spot, followed by Virat Kohli at No. 4. AB de Villiers is slotted at No. 5, while Adam Gilchrist, as the specialist wicketkeeper, rounds out the top six.
For the all-important bowling positions, Yuvraj chose Australian spin legend Shane Warne at No. 7 and Sri Lankan maestro Muttiah Muralitharan at No. 8. The pace attack features Glenn McGrath at No. 9 and Wasim Akram at No. 10, with former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff completing the XI at No. 11. Yuvraj named himself as the special 12th man.
Yuvraj Singh’s All-Time XI:
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Ricky Ponting
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- AB de Villiers
- Adam Gilchrist
- Shane Warne
- Muttiah Muralitharan
- Glenn McGrath
- Wasim Akram
- Andrew Flintoff
- Yuvraj Singh (12th man)
In the final, Pakistan Champions posted a competitive total of 156/6 in their 20 overs. Key contributions came from Shoaib Malik, who scored 41 off 36 balls, and late fireworks by Sohail Tanvir, who remained unbeaten on 19 off 9 balls. Kamran Akmal and Maqsood added 24 and 21 runs, respectively. However, consistent wicket-taking by the Indian bowlers, led by Anureet Singh with three wickets, restricted Pakistan’s progress. Vinay Kumar, Pawan Negi, and Irfan Pathan each chipped in with a wicket.
India Champions started their chase confidently. Despite an early setback with Robin Uthappa’s dismissal for 10, Ambati Rayudu’s explosive 50 off 30 balls set a solid foundation. Although Suresh Raina was dismissed for 4, Rayudu’s partnership with Gurkeerat Singh Mann, who scored 34 off 33 balls, kept India on track. Despite losing both batsmen within 10 runs of each other, Yusuf Pathan’s quickfire 30 off 16 balls turned the momentum in India’s favour.
The victory was sealed with captain Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan at the crease, finishing unbeaten with scores of 15* and 5*, respectively. The win marks a significant achievement for the India Champions and adds another feather to Yuvraj Singh’s illustrious cap.
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