IPL 2017: Top 5 Suresh Raina knocks in the IPL

Suresh Raina is probably one of India’s finest T20I players. He is consistent in the shorter formats of the game, which accentuate his strengths and play down his deficiencies, considering short balls are not as frequently used in ODIs and T20Is.

Nevertheless, Raina, who was as stable a Chennai Super Kings fixture as MS Dhoni was, has given us some sensational knocks over the year. He is a big-match player too, a quality that captains value highly.

While Raina’s prolific form has taken a back-seat in the last couple of seasons of IPL, even as he was overtaken by Virat Kohli as IPL’s highest run-getter, one expects more from the Gujarat Lions southpaw this season. Raina has 4098 runs in 143 innings, second only to Virat’s 4110.

He is also third on the list of most sixes, 160. Raina also has the second fastest IPL fifty in just 16 balls. Here, we recount five of his fascinating IPL innings.

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#5 73(50) v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai, 1 st Qualifying Final, 2011

A winning contribution from Raina in a big match, this came in dire adversity. Chasing a hefty 176 set by RCB, thanks to an unbeaten 44-ball 70 by Virat Kohli, CSK found themselves in trouble at 7 for 2 in the second over.

Raina blazed four fours and six sixes against a decent bowling attack that had Zaheer Khan and Daniel Vettori. In a tight match, the UP-batsman was unbeaten till the end, scoring at 146. He added 63 with Badrinath and 61 with his skipper MS Dhoni, who scored 29 of those runs.

It helped that Albie Morkel smashed a 10-ball 28, a cameo that ensured CSK galloped to the target with two balls to spare. Raina was the Player of the Match.

The two teams would meet again in the final where Murali Vijay’s scintillating 95 will give them the trophy. That was entirely possible only thanks to Raina’s knocks in one of his more productive IPL seasons, where he scored 438 runs.

#4 73(38) v Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai, IPL Final 2012

That Raina’s runs came against a bowling attack that had Sunil Narine, Brett Lee and Kallis makes it even more special

This gem of an innings came in a losing cause for Raina, but he did his reputation no harm as a big-match player. Batting first, Chennai posted a massive 190 in 20 overs. While Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay gave the team a good start, it was Raina who pushed the speed with a strike-rate of 192.

He smashed three fours and five sixes in his innings, adding 73 with Hussey for the second wicket. In reply, KKR made it in the last over with a once-in-a-lifetime innings of 89(48) from Manvinder Bisla, who along with Jacques Kallis helped in achieving the stiff target.

It was KKR’s first title. That Raina’s runs came against a bowling attack that had Sunil Narine, Brett Lee and Kallis makes it even more special.

#3 98(55) v Rajasthan Royals, Centurion, 2009

Raina had a good year with the bat in that season too, scoring 434 runs

Against the defending champions, the Royals, CSK were in trouble at 17 for 2 in the fourth over, losing both their openers. A bowling attack with Munaf Patel and Shane Warne is always tricky. Kamran Khan was an awkward customer to deal with back then. However, Raina consolidated early before launching into a serious offensive.

In a 55-ball innings, he scored 98 with 10 fours and five sixes taking CSK to 164 in 20 overs. The next highest score for CSK was Badrinath’s 29, showing what the team would have managed without Raina’s contribution.

The chase was mediocre and RR capitulated to 126 all out in the 20th over barely putting up a fight. Raina had a good year with the bat in that season too, scoring 434 runs, fourth highest behind Hayden, Gilchrist and AB de Villiers.

#2 100*(53) v Kings XI Punjab, Chennai, 2013

This innings was studded with seven fours and six sixes

Raina walked in at 27 for 1 in the fourth over and remained unbeaten to score a 100 in just 53 balls in an innings that was studded with seven fours and six sixes. The bowlers included his UP teammate, Praveen Kumar, who was expensive along with Manpreet Gony, former CSK teammate.

Chennai piled on 186 in their 20 overs. The second highest score in the CSK innings was Michael Hussey’s 35. Eventually, the total had proven to be just about enough as Kings lost the match by 15 runs.

Shaun Marsh’s 73 and David Miller’s 51 brought them close, but not close enough. It was an innings, where Raina peppered the onside, scoring 49 of his runs in the deep midwicket and long-on region. His attacking intent ensured CSK weren’t bogged down even at 92 for 3 in the 13th over, doubling their score in the next eight.

#1 87 (25) v Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai, IPL 2nd Qualifying Final, 2014

His 25-ball 85 gave him a strike-rate of 348 and included 12 fours and six sixes

Probably Raina’s best IPL knock, this one came in a losing cause as well. Batting first, the Kings posted 226 in their 20 overs, thanks to a blitzkrieg 122 off just 58 balls by Virender Sehwag.

A stiff target like that looked stiffer when CSK lost Faf du Plessis, second ball of their chase. Raina added 66 for the second wicket with Dwayne Smith in 28 balls, of which Smith scored just 7. Raina was ferocious, making mince-meat of the target.

His 25-ball 85 gave him a strike-rate of 348 and included 12 fours and six sixes. That means 18 of his 25 balls were hit for boundaries. He was on target to reach one of the fastest centuries ever scored in cricket.

Unfortunately, Raina was run out after taking CSK to 100 for 2 in just 6 overs. 87 of those 100 runs came off his bat. Requiring only 127 more in 14 overs, CSK goofed up and even a valiant 31-ball 42 from Dhoni couldn’t help as they managed only 202 in their 20 overs.