Suresh Raina’s IPL journey: Performance comparison of the first IPL season vs the last IPL season | CricTracker

Raina played his first IPL season in 2007-08 for CSK, where he immediately showed his caliber by scoring 421 runs from 14 innings, a remarkable standard for the tournament’s debut year. As T20 cricket quickly gained global relevance and some of the biggest names in cricket flocked to the IPL, Raina continued to stand out. His performances in the first season played a major role in CSK’s journey to the finals where they narrowly lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR). His ability to hit with intent made him one of the league’s early stars.

Over the next ten years, Raina was the epitome of reliability. He scored more than 350 runs in every season until 2021, cementing his status as one of the most reliable hitters in the tournament’s history. However, the 2021 season turned out to be his last in the IPL, where he scored 160 runs in 11 innings, a difficult campaign personally, even as CSK clinched their fourth title that year.

Raina ended his IPL career with 5528 runs in 200 innings, a tally that reflects his mastery of the format and longevity in the competition. While his international performances were modest compared to some peers, in the IPL Raina was a dominant force, regularly dictating terms when he was in the groove.

His long association with CSK and close association with MS Dhoni earned him the affectionate nickname ‘Chinna Thala’ (Junior Leader). Whether it was his fluid strokeplay or his trademark inside-out shot over extra cover, Raina has carved a special place in IPL folklore and in the hearts of cricket fans around the world.

Suresh Raina’s IPL 2008 vs IPL 2021 performance comparison

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