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 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.