Suresh Raina’s top 10 knocks in IPL


Suresh Raina’s top 10 knocks in IPL

Suresh Raina

Known by the name of “Mr IPL”, Suresh Raina had successful stint while representing Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. He was one of the rare qualities of winning matches under extreme pressure.

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“Chinna Thala” as CSK fans love to call him, can bat at the top and has the ability to finish matches. Often times, batsmen use their blades against him thinking him as a part-time bowler, which he is though, but they ended up losing their wickets. With this being said, he is the part-time left-arm off-spin bowler, who can take wickets at crucial moments and can turn the table in favour of his team. He played an integral role in helping CSK lift the trophy in four occasions.

With his bat, he has amassed 5528 runs in 205 IPL matches at an average of 32.52 and strike rate of 136.76 with one hundred and 39 half-century knocks.

This swushbuckling star bid adieu to international cricket on August 15 in 2020 two years later, to IPL and domestic cricket yesterday (Tuesday, September 6). In 2022, he went unsold to the surprise of many and took a job of commentary for Star Sports. He has got offers from overseas leagues (Sri Lanka, South Africa, and UAE’s T20 leagues). We may see him ply his trade in those franchise leagues.

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Suresh Raina’s top 10 knocks in IPL

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina
  1. 100* off 53 balls vs Kings XI Punjab in 2013

Suresh Raina became the first player to score a century across all three formats in 2010. In IPL he had not until 2013. Batting when the team’s score read 27/1, Raina glued to the crease despite others batsmen kept losing their wickets. He smashed seven fours and six sixes to score an unbeaten 100* off just 53 balls, helping CSK post 186. KXIP lost that match by 15 runs.

2. 98 off 55 vs Rajasthan Royals in 2009

CSK was invited to bat first and they quickly lost the wickets of Parthiv Patel and Matthew Hayden. Raina came at No. 3 and slammed 10 fours and sive sixes to score 98 runs off 55 balls, helping CSK post 164. RR failed to chase the target and ended up losing the match by 38 runs.

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3. 87 off 25 balls vs Kings XI Punjab in 2014

This was probably one of the best knocks in the history of IPL. In the Qualifiers, Virender Sehwag‘s 122 off 58 balls helped KXIP post a massive 226. CSK lost their openers Faf du Plessis and Dwayne Smith early and when Suresh Raina entered the crease, he quickly smashed a 16-ball 50, sending the balls all over the stadium. In just six over, he helped his team reach 100 by slamming four fours and two sixes in a single over. But that match didn’t end up CSK’s favour and the Yellow army lost the match by 24 runs.

4. 84 off 46 balls in 2017 vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Suresh Raina captaining was the Gujarat Lions in that season. While chasing 188 runs, he smashed a match winning 84 runs off 46 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders. That match also ended Gujarat’s rot as it was their their second win in six matches.

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5. 83* off 52 balls in 2010 vs Mumbai Indians

Batting first, CSK posted 181 with Raina scoring an unbeaten 83* off 52 balls. However, that match didn’t end up in CSK’s favour as Sachin Tendulkar’s 52-ball 72 and Shikhar Dhawan’s 34-ball 56 ensured MI success by five wickets.

6. 75* off 47 balls in 2018 vs Mumbai Indians

CSK was asked to bat first and had lost one wicket (Shane Watson) and then Suresh Raina took the charge after the dismissal of Ambati Rayudu. He played an impressive knock of 75* off 47 taking, stitching a 71-run stand with Rayudu, followed with a 46-run partnership with Dhoni. Raina’s kncok led CSK to 169/5. But Rohit Sharma’s fifty eventually helped MI beat CSK by eight wickets.

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7. 75 off 51 in 2016 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Captaining Gujarat Lions, Raina went on to add 71 runs off 51 balls to help his team post 135/8 when they were asked to bat first. The match ended up in SRH’s favour with a 48-ball 74* runs knock by skipper David Warner.

8. 73* off 50 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011

In the Qualifier match, RCB managed to score 176 with a 44-ball 70 runs from Virat Kohli when the team was asked to bat first. CSK’s openers had openers Michael Hussey and Vijay with the score reading 7/2 in the second over.

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Suresh Raina walked out to bat and stitched a 67-run partnership with Subramaniam Badrinath. He then equally found support from MS Dhoni and with the former’s 73* runs off 50 balls and Albie Morkelis 28* off 10, CSK reached the target and entered the finals.

9. 73 off 38 balls vs Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 final

CSK batted first and Raina’s 73 runs off 38 balls (three fours and five sixes) helped CSK most a competitive 190/3 in 20 overs. However, KKR’s Manvinder Bisla (89 off 48 balls) and Jacques Kallis (69 off 49 balls) helped the team beat CSK by five wickets and KKR lifted the trophy.

10. 57* off 35 vs Mumbai Indians in 2011 final

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CSK already lost the wickets of Matthew Hayden and Murali Vijay and it was Suresh Raina again to stabilize the innings. He stiched a 62-run partnership with no. 4 batter MS Dhoni in less than six overs. Raina’s 57* runs off 35 balls included three fours and as many sixes, helping CSK post 168. Mumbai could only score 146 and CSK ended up lifting their maiden title.

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