New Delhi: Former Team India batter Suresh Raina had a majestical aura in the Indian cricket circuit due to his explosive batting skillset and his occasional right-arm off-spin bowling which proved match-winning for Team India on several occasions. The left-handed batter excelled in all three departments, being one of the best fielders in the world during his prime. His camaraderie with former India skipper MS Dhoni is well-versed.
Raina’s dominance in world cricket can be attributed to some of his greatest knocks for Team India which paved the way for him to feature in league cricket and shine there as well. MS Dhoni, as a skipper, made handy use of Raina as a bowler as the Muradnagar lad entrapped the batters with his spin wizardry. The opposition had to deal with Raina during both innings as he batted with grace, bowled with magic, and fielded with high agility.
Debuting for India in an ODI game in 2005, he bid farewell to international cricket in 2020, having last played for India in 2018. His illustrious career spanned 14 years as he played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs, and 78 T20Is for Team India. He was part of several memorable victories with the Indian team, including the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Raina scored 7988 runs in 322 international matches across formats.
Raina initially started as a top-order batter but gradually cemented his place a little lower down the order. He was an integral part of India’s white-ball setup for close to a decade. Along with Dhoni, Raina has played a number of crucial knocks in limited overs format to take India to victory. Raina is still remembered for his aggression, ability to play aerial shots with the power he could generate, and flamboyant style of batting.
322 intl. matches
7988 intl. runs 👏
2011 World Cup & 2013 Champions Trophy-winner 🏆
Here’s wishing Suresh Raina a very Happy Birthday 🎂👏 #TeamIndia | @ImRaina pic.twitter.com/H1pM0YA11E
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 27, 2024
As Raina celebrates his 38th birthday, we take a trip down memory lane to revisit a few of his top knocks that took Team India over the line.
Suresh Raina top knocks
81* vs England – 2006 ODI in Faridabad
This was the first instance of Raina and Dhoni partnering to take India to victory. Facing England in a seven-match ODI series, India won the first game easily but found themselves in deep trouble when they were reduced to 92/5 while chasing 227. While Dhoni scored 38 off 55 balls, an 18-year-old Raina remained unbeaten at 81(89) helping India win the match.
101 vs South Africa – 2010 T20I in St. Lucia
This is arguably the finest knock of Raina’s career. Facing South Africa in a group game of the 2010 T20 World Cup, the greats like Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Jacques Kallis had no answer to the onslaught of Raina who got going soon as he arrived on the crease at no. 3. With the help of nine fours and five sixes, he finished with 101 runs off 60 balls, becoming the first Indian to score a century in a T20 International.
#OnThisDay in 2010, @ImRaina smashed a 60-ball 101 in the 2010 Men’s #T20WorldCup to become the first 🇮🇳 batsman to score a century in the shortest format.
WATCH his 🔥 innings against 🇿🇦, which consisted of 9️⃣ fours and 5️⃣ sixes 👀 pic.twitter.com/DqjZY3ocBH
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) May 2, 2020
34* vs Australia – 2011 ODI in Ahmedabad
Playing Australia in the quarterfinal of the 2011 ODI World Cup, Raina made one of the most crucial contributions of his career. India were left in a precarious position while chasing 261 and when Raina walked out to bat, India were still 75 runs short. With Yuvraj Singh, he delivered a stunning, unbeaten partnership to take India home. Raina showcased nerves of steel, taking the steam out of the Aussie pace attack.
🔹 34* runs
🔹 28 balls
🔹 Two fours
🔹 One six
Relive Suresh Raina’s crucial knock from the 2011 ICC Men’s @cricketworldcup quarter-final against Australia 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D7LUd8b8Lm
— ICC (@ICC) August 16, 2020
100 vs England – 2014 ODI in Cardiff
India faced England in a five-match ODI series in 2014 whose first game was washed out and the action shifted to Cardiff where India batted first. When Raina walked out to bat, India were 110/3 and was left with Dhoni yet again. The duo provided a match-winning partnership as Dhoni hit 52 while Raina hit a sublime century to power India to 304/6. The visitors eventually won the game by 133 runs (DLS method).
Suresh Raina celebrates his century during the 2nd ODI between England and India on August 27, 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo – Getty Images)
110* vs Zimbabwe – 2015 ODI in Auckland
During the 2015 ODI World Cup, India cruised to the quarterfinal with emphatic victories but were in for a stern test due to their final group stage clash which was against Zimbabwe. Bowling first, India leaked 287 and got into trouble while chasing the target. The team’s score was at 92/4 in 22.4 overs as Raina and Dhoni turned saviours yet again and bailed India out of trouble. Dhoni remained not out on 85 off 76, while Raina scored 110* off 104. As Suresh Raina celebrates his 38th birthday, we take a trip down the memory lane to revisit a few of his top knocks for Team India that made him a vital cog in Indian cricket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
