Suresh Raina, a true servant of Chennai Super Kings
When you talk of CSK franchise, two players immediately come to mind, one is of course their talismanic captain MS Dhoni and the other, of course, is his lieutenant Suresh Raina. Suresh Raina has been associated with team CSK since the inception of IPL in 2008 and played till 2015 till CSK was suspended and then resumed his loyalty from 2018.
He has been consistent with the bat in IPL scoring so far 5,495 runs and is the third highest scorer in the history of IPL and has played 201 matches and has an average of scoring 450 runs per season which is massive and commendable as the number one league in the world has evolved drastically since its beginning from 2008.
CSK won its first title in 2010 and Suresh Raina was instrumental in the franchise winning its first title by scoring 520 runs. He also scored 438 in the following year in 2011 when CSK went to win back to back titles.
In 2018, when CSK returned to IPL, it was called the Dad’s Army and no one gave them a chance but along with Ambati Raydu, Shane Watson, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina was the fourth highest scorer with 445 crucial runs and was instrumental in winning their third title.
His innings of 87 runs off just 25 balls against Kings XI Punjab is still rated as his best knock and could have gotten the fastest hundred had he not been run out. He is also very handy with the ball and bowls useful overs whenever his captain demands. He has picked up 25 wickets in the history of IPL.
He is also a live wire on the field and is among the top three even at the age of 34.
A lieutenant is known as a deputy or substitute acting for a superior and Suresh Raina has filled that role for MS Dhoni with his heart and soul. Indeed, a true servant of CSK Franchise.