SURESH RAINA THE JOURNEY OF CRICKET STAR

Suresh Raina is a retired Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team and in domestic cricket. Known for his energetic and aggressive batting, he was a key player for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Raina is celebrated for his all-round abilities, including his fielding and occasional off-spin bowling. He was an important part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

Childhood And Early Days

Suresh Raina was born on November 27, I986, in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh From a very young age, cricket was a big part of his life.To take his game to the next level, he moved on from his hometown to Guru Gobind Singh Sports College. At just 15 and a half, he impressed Indian selectors during the U-19 tour of England in 2002 by scoring a couple of half-centuries. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh at 16 and played for various Indian junior teams. His big moment m his life came in the 2004 U-19 World Cup when he scored 90 runs in just 38 balls which impressed selectors and help him to get a scholarship for bgt (border gavaskar academy scholarship in australia

Suresh Raina’s International Career:

Suresh Raina’s dream of representing the Indian national cricket team became a reality in 2005 when he made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Sri Lanka.Where india loss that match by 3 wicket where suresh raina scored GOLDEN DUCK. Over the years raina played only 18 tests,226 odis and 78 t20 International. showcasing his versatility across all formats of the game.

Suresh raina was the 1st indian to scored hundreds in all 3 formats .His 1st test century came after 5 year of his odi debuts He marked this significant milestone by scoring a remarkable century in his very first Test match,making an immediate impactThroughout his career, he was known for his consistent run-scoring ability in all formats. He accumulated 768 runs in Test matches, 5615 runs in ODIs, and 1605 runs in T20Is.

He has many wicket in tests,odis and t20 internationals he has 65 wickets overall Raina’s contributions were vital to the Indian cricket team, and his performances in all three formats of the game highlighted his skill and dedication as a cricketer.

He batted in the lower middle order and was known for his explosive style. His great fielding also made him an important player for the Indian team.He was also an important part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

Suresh Raina made his T20 debut against South Africa on December 1, 2006. In the T20 format, he truly shone and established himself as one of India’s premier players during the 2010s. Raina’s explosive batting and ability to play under pressure set him apart in T20 cricket. A standout moment in his T20 career came during the 2010 ICC T20 World Cup, where he scored a brilliant century against South Africa. This innings highlighted his exceptional skill and dominance in the shortest format of the game, reinforcing his reputation as a key player for India in T20 cricket.

Raina as the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team:

Suresh Raina became an important leader in the Indian cricket team due to his great performances and strong personality. Known for his leadership skills, he often took charge when the regular captains were unavailable.

In 2010, when MS Dhoni was injured, Raina led the team to a T20 series win against Zimbabwe. His leadership continued to shine during the West Indies tour in 2011, stepping up when other captains were not available.

Another notable instance of his leadership was during the 2014 series against Bangladesh. Raina guided a young Indian team to a 2-0 victory in the series. In the second ODI of that series, he played a crucial role in helping India defend a small total of 104 runs, leading the team to dismiss Bangladesh for just 54 runs.

Through these experiences, Raina proved to be a dependable and effective leader for the Indian team.

Suresh Raina’s As Batsman

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s	Highest
Test	18	18	768	26.48	53.14	1	7	120
ODI	226	226	5615	35.31	93.50	5	36	116*
T20I	78	76	1605	29.18	134.87	0	8	108*

Additional Details

Tests: In 18 matches, Raina played 18 innings, scoring 768 runs with an average of 26.48 and a strike rate of 53.14. He scored 1 century, 7 half-centuries, and his highest score was 120.
ODIs: Across 226 matches, Raina had 226 innings, accumulating 5615 runs at an average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 93.50. He scored 5 centuries, 36 half-centuries, and his highest score was 116* (not out).
T20Is: In 78 matches, Raina batted in 76 innings, making 1605 runs with an average of 29.18 and a strike rate of 134.87. He did not score any centuries but had 8 half-centuries, with his highest score being 101* (not out).

This table gives a detailed overview of Raina’s batting achievements in each format.

Suresh Raina’s Presence In The Field

Facing a well-in-form Suresh Raina was a challenge for any opposition. He had the ability to score quickly, putting up 40 to 50 runs in the final overs of a match. Besides his explosive batting, he could also bowl a few tight overs and use his excellent fielding skills to save important runs for his team. Raina was especially strong in limited-overs formats, such as ODIs and T20s. However, he did have a hard time handling short-pitched deliveries, which could sometimes trouble him. His pull shots, flicks and slog sweeps were a thing of beauty On top of these, his trademark inside out over the top is one of the best cricket shots the one of the most favourite shot of raina Suresh Raina was handy with his off-spin, taking key wickets when needed. His fielding was exceptional—quick reflexes and great in any position. Even Jonty Rhodes called him the best fielder in the world.

Suresh Raina AKA Mr IPL

Suresh Raina, often called “Mr. IPL,” is a true legend of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been a key player for the Chennai Super Kings, forming a famous partnership with MS Dhoni, who is known as “Thala.” Raina consistently performed well in the IPL, scoring over 400 runs in nine out of the twelve seasons he played. With a total of 5,528 runs, he ranks among the top run-scorers in the history of the league. He scored 38 fifties and one century, with an average of 33.34 and a strike rate of 137.14.

Raina is also well-known for his incredible consistency. He played in every IPL match for many years and holds the record for the most consecutive games played. He only missed his first IPL match in the ninth season when his first child was born. In Tamil Nadu, he is affectionately called “Chinna Thala,” and his impressive IPL career has made him a franchise legend.

Suresh Raina IPL Perfomance

Suresh Raina, known as “Mr. IPL,” is a true legend of the Indian Premier League (IPL), especially for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Partnered with MS Dhoni, Raina has been a key player in the league. He scored over 400 runs in nine out of twelve seasons and has amassed 5,528 runs overall. With 38 fifties and one century, he maintains a career average of 33.34 and a strike rate of 137.14. Raina, affectionately called “Chinna Thala,” holds the record for most consecutive IPL matches played and only missed games starting from the ninth season due to the birth of his child.

Suresh raina played for csk till 2021 he missed 1 season in 2020 and after comeback he won ipl with csk.He also missed 2 season when csk was banned he also known as mr ipl for his consistent performance he is incredible

Suresh Raina Retirement from International Cricket and IPL:

Suresh Raina’s fitness issues led to him no longer being a regular in the Indian team, with his last series in 2018. He retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, right after Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his own retirement. Raina shared his admiration for Dhoni and his pride in playing for India in a heartfelt Instagram post.

In the 2020 IPL season held in Dubai, Raina withdrew due to dissatisfaction with CSK’s treatment and the challenges of the COVID-19 bio-bubble. He returned in 2021 but was not at his best, scoring only 160 runs. CSK did not pick him for the 2022 season, leading Raina to retire from all forms of cricket. He now works as a cricket expert on various channels.

Suresh Raina’s Remarkable Innings, Achievements:

First Indian player to score 6000 runs in his Twenty20 career.
First Indian player to score 8000 runs in his Twenty20 career.
First Indian player to score a century in International T20.
First Indian player to score a century in Champions League Twenty20.
First cricketer ever to reach 5,000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Holds the record for the most number of catches (107) in the IPL.
Second player after Chris Gayle and the first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in the IPL.
Highest run-scorer in the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) with 842 runs.
Holds the record for scoring the most fifties (50s) in Champions League T20 history with 6 fifties.
Holds the record for the most runs scored in the powerplay in an IPL match.

Achievements:

Part of the Indian cricket team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.
Played a key role in the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL victories from 2010 to 2021.
Consistently performed as a reliable middle-order batsman for both the Indian national team and his IPL franchise.
Known for his exceptional fielding skills and agility, contributing to his high number of catches.
Recognized as one of the most versatile and consistent T20 batsmen in Indian cricket history

Notable Innings

87 off 25 Balls: Raina scored an amazing 87 runs off 25 balls in an IPL match against Kings XI Punjab. It was one of the best innings in IPL history.
Century Against South Africa: He hit an unbeaten 101* in a T20 match against South Africa in 2010.
100 vs KXIP (IPL 2013):* Raina’s first IPL century was 100* against Kings XI Punjab in 2013.
2011 World Cup: Raina made important contributions in the 2011 World Cup, scoring 34 runs in the quarter-final against australia and 36 runs in the semi-final against pakistan

Conclusion

Suresh Raina was a fantastic middle-order batsman for India and CSK. Fans miss his skills and cheerful presence. New players like Tilak Varma are coming up, but only time will tell if they can match Raina’s impact.