The history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will never be completed in its truest sense without the mention of its biggest servants, someone who, it won't be an exaggeration to say, is the first bonafide IPL star.
The IPL came at the time when Suresh Raina was at the hinge of the Indian team. Having made his international debut in 2005, Raina was earmarked as the 'next big thing,” but the southpaw failed to live up to the initial promise and was subsequently ousted from the set-up before the 2007 World Cup, but did not let the opportunity slip eventually.
| IPL Debut Year | 2008 |
| IPL Teams | Chennai Super Kings [2008-15 & 2018-21], Gujarat Lions [2016-17] |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Batter |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-spinner |
Suresh Raina IPL Teams from 2008-21
Suresh Raina instantaneously became the backbone of the Chennai Super Kings, belting out consistent performances season after season at the coveted No.3 spot to help his side claim three titles and multiple playoff finishes.
Raina scored 400+ runs in seven consecutive seasons to earn the moniker 'Mr. IPL' and CSK's "Chinna Thala", with his lofted inside-out drive getting immortalized into the annals of the IPL folklore.
If Dhoni was the engine room, Raina was the diesel that fuelled it. And together, they rolled on to build CSK as a ruthless juggernaut during the initial years. Apart from his batting, Raina's superlative fielding skills and handy off-spin made him an ideal T20 package. He still holds the record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in IPL history.
The best thing about Raina was that in his prime, he used to come clutch more often than not in knockouts, which also explains why he is the all-time leading scorer in IPL Playoffs.
His 87 off 25 balls against the Kings XI Punjab during a 2014 Qualifier remains one of the greatest-ever knocks played in a knockout fixture. Raina led the Gujarat Lions in 2016 to the playoffs and in 2017 as well after CSK was suspended for two years. Suresh Raina missed his first-ever IPL match during his time at the Gujarat Lions, after playing 143 matches, due to the birth of his daughter. After CSK’s suspension was over, he returned home in 2018 to kickstart a second innings with the franchise he had contributed so much to.
The journey started well with CSK winning the title in their comeback season, and Raina himself contributed with the bat- 445 runs @ 37.08/132.44. However, it soon went southwards in 2020, when Raina abruptly left CSK's bio-bubble in the United Arab Emirates, days before the start of the 12th season.
Various theories were cited behind the alleged fallout, with N. Srinivasan himself coming out in the media to criticize Raina. However, Raina maintained that the reason behind his pulling out was purely personal.
The matters were soon resolved and Raina returned to represent CSK in the following season. But, he again looked like a pale shadow of his former self, and after managing just 160 runs in 12 innings, he was eventually dropped from the playing XI.
Raina backed the move publically, and it indeed paid dividends as Robin Uthappa filled the role perfectly. CSK won the title, but it proved to be bittersweet for Raina as it invariably signaled curtains on his glorious IPL career.
And, it was confirmed a few months later when CSK chose to not retain him ahead of the mega-auction.
Suresh Raina IPL Auction Price
Suresh Raina was bought by the Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 for a sum of INR 2.6 crores and had revealed in his biography that MS Dhoni texted him as soon as he was inducted into the CSK franchise. However, Mr. IPL was deprived of a fairytale farewell as his last auction in 2022 saw no takers for him, not even CSK, and he shockingly went unsold.
| Year | Team | Salary (in Rs) |
| 2008 | Chennai Super Kings | 26,000,000 |
| 2009 | Chennai Super Kings | 26,000,000 |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | 26,000,000 |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | 59,800,000 |
| 2012 | Chennai Super Kings | 59,800,000 |
| 2013 | Chennai Super Kings | 59,800,000 |
| 2014 | Chennai Super Kings | 95,000,000 |
| 2015 | Chennai Super Kings | 95,000,000 |
| 2016 | Gujarat Lions | 95,000,000 |
| 2017 | Gujarat Lions | 125,000,000 |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | 110,000,000 |
| 2019 (Retain) | Chennai Super Kings | 110,000,000 |
| 2020 (Ruled out) | Chennai Super Kings | 110,000,000 |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | 110,000,000 |
| Total | INR 1,107,400,000 |
Suresh Raina IPL Runs Year-wise
Suresh Raina has been given the tag of Mr. IPL not only for amassing runs but doing so with consistency and in important junctures. He has scored 5528 runs in 205 matches at a strike rate of 136.6 and has been a vital cog in CSK’s four title triumphs.
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | Avg | S/R | HS | 50s | 100s | 4s | 6s | CT |
| 2008 | 16 | - | 3 | 421 | 38.27 | 142.22 | 55* | 3 | 0 | 35 | 18 | 10 |
| 2009 | 14 | - | 0 | 434 | 31.00 | 140.90 | 98 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 21 | 7 |
| 2010 | 16 | - | 5 | 520 | 47.27 | 142.85 | 83* | 4 | 0 | 45 | 22 | 10 |
| 2011 | 16 | - | 2 | 438 | 31.28 | 134.76 | 73* | 4 | 0 | 36 | 17 | 4 |
| 2012 | 19 | - | 1 | 441 | 25.94 | 135.69 | 73 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 19 | 11 |
| 2013 | 18 | - | 4 | 548 | 42.15 | 150.13 | 100* | 4 | 1 | 50 | 18 | 10 |
| 2014 | 16 | - | 3 | 523 | 40.23 | 146.08 | 87 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 19 | 11 |
| 2015 | 17 | - | 2 | 374 | 24.93 | 123.02 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 16 | 11 |
| 2016 | 15 | - | 1 | 399 | 28.50 | 127.88 | 75 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 10 | 7 |
| 2017 | 14 | - | 3 | 442 | 40.18 | 143.97 | 84 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 13 | 4 |
| 2018 | 15 | - | 3 | 445 | 37.08 | 132.44 | 75* | 4 | 0 | 46 | 12 | 9 |
| 2019 | 17 | - | 1 | 383 | 23.93 | 121.97 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 9 | 7 |
| 2021 | 12 | - | 2 | 160 | 17.77 | 125.00 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| Total | 205 | - | 30 | 5528 | 32.51 | 136.76 | 100* | 39 | 1 | 506 | 203 | 108 |
Suresh Raina IPL Wickets Year-wise
Suresh Raina was not only a batting savior, but also a handy bowler who provided crucial breakthroughs with his part-time off-spin.
| Year | Matches | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Figures | 4-wicket match |
| 2008 | 16 | 20 | 30 | 1 | 30.00 | 9.00 | 1/20 | 0 |
| 2009 | 14 | 166 | 164 | 7 | 23.42 | 5.92 | 2/17 | 0 |
| 2010 | 16 | 143 | 178 | 6 | 29.66 | 7.46 | 1/0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 165 | 201 | 4 | 50.25 | 7.30 | 2/0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 84 | 105 | 2 | 52.50 | 7.50 | 1/5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 18 | 12 | 23 | 1 | 23.00 | 11.50 | 1/4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 108 | 134 | 1 | 134.00 | 7.44 | 1/17 | 0 |
| 2015 | 17 | 72 | 93 | 2 | 46.50 | 7.75 | 1/29 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 60 | 82 | 0 | - | 8.20 | 0/15 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 72 | 102 | 1 | 102.00 | 8.50 | 1/11 | 0 |
| 2018 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 |
| 2019 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 0 | - | 6.00 | 0/6 | 0 |
| 2020 | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 |
| Total | 205 | 908 | 1118 | 25 | 44.72 | 7.39 | 2/0 | 0 |
Suresh Raina IPL Records
Suresh Raina has dominated the IPL like none other and earned the tag of Mr. IPL for his extraordinary performances and immaculate records.
| 4th highest run-getter in IPL history | Suresh Raina scored 5529 runs in 200 innings @ 33.10/138.91 with 40 50+ scores, including 2 100s |
| Leading run-scorer for CSK | Raina hammered 5529 runs for CSK, which still remains the highest for the franchise. |
| Most catches by a non-keeper | In 205 matches, Raina claimed 109 catches, which is 6 more than the next best- Kieron Pollard (103 in 189 matches). |
| Most runs by a batter in the powerplay | Raina clobbered 87 off just 25 deliveries inside the 6-over powerplay during a Qualifer fixture against the Punjab Kings in IPL 2014. |
| Most consecutive matches for an IPL franchise | Raina featured in 158 consecutive matches for CSK b/w 2008-18. |
| First batter to score 5000 IPL runs | "Mr IPL" achieved the milestone in his 177th outing (vs RCB) during the 2019 edition |
| Most 50s for CSK | Raina racked up 38 50s for CSK: the next best is MS Dhoni with 23. |
| Most 4s for CSK | The former CSK #3 clobbered 494 4s in his IPL career. The next best is Dhoni with 341 4s. |
| 2nd most 6s for CSK | "Chinna Thala" sent the ball over the ropes on 219 instances for CSK; only MS Dhoni has sent more balls (225 sixes) sailing into the crowd. |
| Most runs in Playoffs | Raina racked up 714 runs in 24 Playoff fixtures at a strike rate of 155. |
| Only player to smash 7 boundaries in one over | He claimed the feat during his 25-ball 87 against the Punjab Kings. |
| Best strike rate by any player in an IPL innings | Raina smashed 87 off 25 deliveries against Punjab in IPL 2014 Qualifier 02. His strike rate of 348 remains the highest for any batter who has faced 18+ deliveries in an IPL innings. |
Suresh Raina as Batter
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | S/R | 50/100 |
| 205 | 200 | 5528 | 32.52 | 136.73 | 39/1 |
Suresh Raina As Captain
| Matches | Won | Lost | Draw | NR/Tied |
| 34 | 14 | 18 | - | 2 |
Suresh Raina as Bowler
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy |
| 205 | 25 | 44.72 | 7.39 |
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FAQs
A. Suresh Raina started playing IPL in 2008 for the Chennai Super Kings.
A. Suresh Raina has scored 4687 runs in 186 IPL matches for the Chennai Super Kings and was instrumental in the franchise’s successful campaigns across four seasons.
A. Suresh Raina hailed as Mr. IPL, was deprived of a fairytale farewell as his last auction in 2022 saw no takers for him, not even CSK, and he shockingly went unsold. This prompted him to retire in late 2022 from IPL.
A. Suresh Raina has represented the Chennai Super Kings for 12 seasons and the now-defunct Gujarat Lions in 2 seasons.
A. Suresh Raina scored a solitary century in IPL, against the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2013.
![[WATCH] Suresh Raina playing cricket with his son & daughter on the ground during the 2024 Legends League Cricket](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/5ddb9-17275810671680-1920.jpg?h=166)
