5 reasons why Suresh Raina is a better IPL player than Yuvraj Singh

Two of India's biggest middle-order stars of the late 2000s, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina have given the Indian team fans lots to cheer about for years. While both these southpaws have laid their hands on the IPL trophy at least once, it has not been a similar ride across seasons for the two.

Raina, moulded in the yellow jersey for years together, is IPL's highest run-getter, while Yuvraj has been a case of 'what if', providing sparks, but only in small pockets.

Here are five reasons why Suresh Raina is a better IPL player than Yuvraj Singh:

#1 Consistent over the years

There is no denying that Suresh Raina has been one of IPL's most consistent performers, rarely having a bad season over the last 10 years. He is above Virat Kohli, and tops the list of IPL's highest run-getters, having amassed 4540 runs in 161 games for the Chennai Super Kings and later for the Gujarat Lions (for two years). Such consistency in the T20 format is worth praising: the average (34.13), truly exhibits that.

On the other hand, Yuvraj, who has been called one of the best T20 players to have donned the Indian jersey, is 17th on the list, having scored 2587 runs at an average of 25.61.

Perhaps it's the load of playing for different franchises, but Yuvraj has never had consistency as one of his plus points in the IPL.

#2 Better fielder in the current scenario

Raina is still one of the best in the business

Yuvraj Singh was truly the king of India's fielding in the early 2000s, and was known the world over for his remarkable athleticism and ground fielding abilities. However, deteriorating fitness, and the untimely bout of cancer that held him back, meant that he was not able to remain fully fit, especially in the last few years.

The last two years have seen him go in and out of the team, struggling while fielding, letting go of catches that he would have caught in his sleep.

On the other hand, a fully fit Suresh Raina is a dream on the field, even today; after having spent countless hours in the gym, he is among the sharpest in the middle. And he has plucked some blinders in the IPL.

The overall record also shows a clear difference: Raina has 85 catches from 161 games, that's more than a catch every two games. Yuvraj, in 120 games, has 33 catches.

#3 More value for money

Raina has been a valuable player for CSK

The hype surrounding Yuvraj Singh's T20 abilities is justified; the man has single-handedly created magic in both forms of the World Cup, but the price tag that came along in the IPL was something that seemed to stay like a burden on Yuvraj.

In 2014, he was purchased by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping Rs.14 crore, but wasn't retained for the next season as the franchise realised he was costing more than he was performing. In 2015, he was handed a massive bounty of Rs. 16 crore by the Delhi Daredevils, but failed there as well, averaging 19.07 at a sorry strike-rate of 118.

Raina, on the other hand, is value for money for the sheer dynamism he provides as a complete package. The fact that he has been retained by the Chennai Super Kings for the 2018 IPL, despite having a doubtful Team India spot recently, shows how the franchise is willing to splurge on the player.

Raina went to the Gujarat Lions for Rs. 12.5 crore, and after an average season in his first year with them, where he averaged 29, he returned to form last year, averaging 40.18 and scoring 442 runs at a strike-rate of 143.97.

#4 Better impact on the team's performance

Raina has played some tournament winning knocks

Suresh Raina knows how to perform when needed the most: some of the most high pressure knocks in the IPL have come out of his bat, none more impactful than his brazen 29-ball 87 that almost took the Super Kings past Kings XI Punjab in the semi-finals in 2014. In the first qualifier against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011, Raina stepped up with a brilliant 50-ball 73 and took his side home. A 38-ball 72 against KKR in the finals in 2012, a 53-ball hundred against Punjab in 2013, and a 98 off 55 when the side was 17-2, speak volumes of his ability to rise to the occasion.

On the other hand, Yuvraj has been a pale shadow of his Team India self in the IPL. Apart from a useful hand for the Sunrisers Hyderabad during their triumphant IPL season in 2016, Yuvraj has failed to buoy his sides towards the playoffs, failing to perform when required. In 2014 and 2015, when he was with RCB and DD, the sides finished seventh in the points table. When he was with the Pune Warriors, they finished ninth.

#5 More versatility in the format

Raina can play different roles to perfection

While it is true that when Yuvraj Singh is in full flow, he can't be competed with, the fact that his fluency is so inconsistent makes him sort of a hit-and-miss player in the shortest format.

Suresh Raina, on the other hand, has a versatile game that he can mould based on the circumstances: he can play the silent, second-fiddle to a more rampaging partner when need be, and launch into attack mode when he wants to, while Yuvraj Singh is expected to come out in full flow whenever he enters the ground.

Raina has an overall better strike-rate than Yuvraj Singh: 139.09, compared to Yuvraj's 131.18, which shows that his ball-striking abilities come to the fore when required, despite the fact that both the batsmen generally came in at No. 3 or No. 4 for their franchises.

The fact that Raina has played 3264 balls in 161 games (averaging 20 balls per innings), to Yuvraj's 1972 balls in 120 games (average 16 balls per innings), shows that he has enjoyed longer stays in the middle to play more impactful knocks. Not outs wise too, Raina's 24 is far higher than Yuvraj's 16 in 120 games.