Virat Kohli or Suresh Raina - who has a better record in the IPL?

Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli are perhaps two of the unanimous names that make up an all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) playing XI. Apart from being two of the top run scorers in the competition, their ability to be the mainstay for their sides, and their sheer consistency elevated them from the rest.

Kohli worked his way up the batting order, and shuffled between an opening spot and No.3, proving his ability in both roles. Raina, on the other hand, was one of IPL's bonafide No.3's but has also played other roles in the middle-order too.

Their contributions were pivotal for their franchise, and they shaped the way they went about their business according to how the team was shaped, and the situation they were placed in. Raina's command over spinners made him an integral presence in the middle overs, and he has anchored many innings for the five-time champions.

Virat Kohli has had to adapt over the years, with his last major switch coming in the 2024 edition itself, where he had to ramp up his scoring even further, particularly in the middle overs against spin, to match the modern template.

He was part of the iconic batting trio alongside Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers at one time, then had Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell for company, with many other batting partners in the past. In each system, he has had to tweak his approach a touch accordingly but was unmoved as the backbone of the team.

On that note, let us compare the batting exploits of Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in the IPL.

---

#1 Raw numbers

Kohli and Raina's IPL journey began simultaneously, with the very first edition in 2008. However, the latter had a huge headstart since he was an established player in the national team by then, while Kohli had just come off winning the 2008 U-19 World Cup.

It took the ace right-hander to announce his arrival in the IPL. Raina, on the other hand, hit the ground running right away. While Kohli had to wait for four editions for his first breakthrough season, Raina was impressive from the get-go and breached the 400-run mark in each of his first seven editions.

By the time Raina retired in 2021, Kohli had already breached his run-tally. The RCB icon surpassed the CSK legend in terms of run-scoring in the 2019 edition of the IPL.

When Raina bid farewell to the IPL, he departed with 5528 runs at an average of 32.52, and a strike rate of 136.76 in exactly 200 innings. At the same stopping point, Kohli had 6324 runs at an average of 37.64, and a strike rate of 130.02.

The numbers are arguably neck-to-neck at that stage. However, a lot has transpired in the last three-year cycle. Kohli had to battle a disastrous 2022 season and responded strongly with back-to-back thumping seasons. His recent exploits have driven his run tally, average, and strike rate up to 8004, 38.67, and 131.97, respectively.

---

#2 Impact in winning causes

All the runs in the world mean nothing if it does not help the team win games. Both Kohli and Raina were the biggest match-winners for their side, and while a wide array of factors depend on the match result, a lot hinged on how the duo performed. They have had a huge say in the majority of the matches that their respective teams have won, and it is reflected in the statistics as well.

When it comes to numbers in winning causes, Kohli has scored 4273 runs in 116 innings at an average of 47.48, and a strike rate of 138.46, cementing his status as RCB's biggest match-winner ever.

Raina, on the other hand, has contributed 3559 runs in 118 innings at an average of 38.27, and a strike rate of 139.40. The left-handed batter has been part of several of CSK's biggest wins, and those wins might never have transpired had it not been for Raina's contribution.

---

#3 Consistency vs Hunger

Both Kohli and Raina boast an impressive IPL batting CV. Their raw numbers speak for themselves, but there are other milestones too that need to be considered.

Raina's sheer consistency is up against Kohli's hunger in this case. Barring his twilight years, the former has always been among the runs season after season, along with 39 fifties and a hundred.

Kohli, on the other hand, after overcoming his initial stutter in the league, showcased what he is capable of. He translated his penchant for scoring runs in international cricket into the IPL as well. The ace batter not only brought consistency into the picture but also showed hunger to have mega seasons which Raina could not achieve in his career.

Raina's highest tally for an IPL season is 548 runs, which he achieved during the 2013 edition. He managed to cross the 500-run mark across two more occasions in his IPL career.

Kohli, on the other hand, has breached the same mark a total of seven times. He also has two Orange Caps and eight IPL hundreds to his name. The former RCB skipper also holds the record for the most number of runs in a single edition, from when he slammed 973 runs in the 2016 campaign.

While Raina, the Mr.IPL, has left a rich legacy that will not be soon forgotten, statistically his numbers struggle to match the dominant level of Virat Kohli. As mentioned earlier, it was a close affair when Raina was an active player, but Kohli has leaped ahead with two consecutive blockbuster seasons.