WCL 2025: ‘Would’ve crushed them too but we chose nation’ – Suresh Raina as South Africa trump Pakistan in WCL final

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina lauded AB de Villiers for his scintillating performance in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), where South Africa clinched the title with a win over Pakistan on Saturday, August 2. Raina hailed de Villiers’ knock and expressed admiration for the Proteas’ triumph. Raina also asserted that had India played the semi-final, they would have crushed Pakistan.

However, much of the tournament’s spotlight was not on the final, but rather on India’s decision to withdraw from their scheduled matches against Pakistan. Raina, along with fellow Indian legends Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan, had earlier pulled out of their opening match against Pakistan.

The withdrawal came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which sparked significant public outrage. The Indian players collectively decided not to take part in any match against Pakistan, citing national sentiment as their priority.

As fate would have it, India and Pakistan were set to face each other again in the semi-final. But true to their earlier decision, the Indian players chose to exit the tournament entirely, resulting in a walkover for Pakistan, who advanced to the final.

Speaking about the match, de Villiers’ masterclass dismantled Pakistan, with the Proteas stalwart hitting his his third century of the tournament. Chasing 196, South Africa cruised to victory in just 16.5 overs, losing only one wicket. The flamboyant right-hander smashed an unbeaten 120 off just 60 balls, showcasing his trademark strokeplay. He was well-supported by JP Duminy, who contributed a fluent 50 off 28 balls, as the duo ensured a dominant win for South Africa and sealed the WCL title.