IPL 2019: 3 records Suresh Raina can break this year

Fondly known as “Mr. IPL”, Suresh Raina is definitely one of the biggest stars to have emerged from the IPL. Raina has been a part of the IPL extravaganza right from the start in 2008. He has played 176 matches in the IPL, the most by any cricketer.

Raina can get you runs at the top, crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs and can effect a dismissal with his brilliant fielding skills as well. He is a total package for any team in T20s.

Raina, who was a crucial member of the 2011 World Cup winning squad, is now on the fringes of the Indian team. He has been dropped from both the ODI and T20 sides.

While his chances for the World Cup 2019 appear bleak, he can definitely cement a place in the Indian T20 side for the 2020 World T20 if he performs well in the upcoming 12th edition of the IPL.

Let us take a look at 3 records Raina can break in IPL 2019.

#1. First cricketer to score 5000 runs in the IPL

Raina is just 15 runs short of the landmark of 5000 runs in the IPL

Raina is the leading run scorer in the history of the IPL. The star batsman of the Chennai Super Kings has 4985 runs to his name from 172 innings, and needs just 15 runs to achieve the landmark of 5000 runs.

His strike rate of 138 makes this all the more impressive. Time and again, he has played invaluable knocks for his team.

“Chinna Thalla” faces tough competition from Indian captain Virat Kohli in this area; Kohli, who has 4948 runs to his name, may just pip him to the magical mark of 5000 runs as both of them collide in the season opener of the 12 edition of the IPL in Chennai.

Raina has 8001 T20 runs to his name overall, and is sixth on the all-time run scorer’s list in T20s. Chris Gayle leads the chart with a whopping 12298 T20 runs to his name.

#2. The first cricketer to take 100 catches in the IPL

Suresh Raina taking a catch

Apart from being an exceptional batsman and a useful bowler, Raina is also a sensational fielder - probably one of the best India has ever produced. He is an absolute livewire on the field.

In the powerplay, he is positioned at the cover-point region, and he covers the crucial areas of long-on and deep mid-wicket in the death overs. Raina not only saves plenty of runs in the outfield but is also responsible for taking some great catches.

He has one of the safest pair of hands in the Chennai line up. Raina currently has 95 catches to his name and is the favourite to reach the 100-catches mark in the upcoming edition of the IPL.

Second on the list is Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma who has taken 79 catches over the years in the IPL.

Raina has taken many blinders over the years. His brilliant take of Suryakumar Yadav in the slips still gives goosebumps to fans.

#3. Most 50s in the IPL

Raina has 34 fifties to his name in the IPL

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir currently holds the record for most fifties in the IPL with 36 to his name. He is joined by David Warner at the top of the list with 36 fifties as well. Raina is third on the list with 35 fifties, and is followed closely by Virat Kohli with 34 fifties.

Gambhir went unsold this year at the auctions while Warner may not play the entire IPL due to his injury concerns. That gives Raina a golden opportunity to have one more record to his name.

Raina has been in good form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy and is likely to add more runs under his belt in the upcoming IPL as well. It will be an interesting battle between Raina and Kohli for the top spot on the list.

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