Suresh Raina kicks aside Travis Head, names Suryakumar Yadav among top 3 T20 batters in the world

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend Suresh Raina has named his top three T20I batters of the current era, including South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen. The former batter also stated that two Indian batters played a key role in T20Is following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma last year.

Raina, who made his debut for India in 2005 against Sri Lanka, played 322 international matches, scoring 7,988 runs with seven centuries and 48 fifties. He was also among the top batters in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The southpaw scored 5,568 runs in 205 matches, including one century and 39 fifties.

Suresh Raina Names Top Three T20I Batters of the Current Era

Suresh Raina picked Heinrich Klaasen as the first in his top three T20I batters of the current era. Raina included Abhishek Sharma and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. The cricketer-turned-commentator recalled Abhishek’s century in his last T20I against England.

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"(Top three T20 batsmen from current era) – Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav," Suresh Raina said on Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube channel.

“Abhishek Sharma is… he scored a century against England at Wankhede Stadium (135 from 54 balls on February 2, 2025). Suryakumar Yadav ke paas bahut sarey shots hai (Suryakumar Yadav has a lot of shots). And the six-hitting ability that Klaasen has is very rare. They are top three in the world right now," Raina added.

Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Heinrich Klaasen Performances in T20I and IPL

Abhishek Sharma has scored 535 runs in 17 T20Is at a strike rate of 193.84, including two centuries and two fifties. He has scored 1,816 runs in 77 IPL matches at a strike rate of 163.01, with one century and nine fifties. The left-handed batter recently claimed the top spot in ICC Rankings for T20I batters.

Suryakumar Yadav has scored 2,598 runs in 83 T20Is at a strike rate of 167.07, including four centuries and 21 half-centuries. He has amassed 4,311 runs from 166 IPL games at a strike rate of 148.65, including two centuries and 29 fifties. He currently plays only in the T20I setup.

Heinrich Klaasen, retained by SunRisers Hyderabad for ₹23 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, scored 1,414 runs in 39 innings over the past three seasons at a strike rate of 173.50, including two centuries and seven fifties. Klaasen retired from all international formats earlier this year.

Suresh Raina is Confident About Prithvi Shaw’s Comeback in Team India and IPL

Suresh Raina expressed confidence in Prithvi Shaw returning to the Indian cricket team and the IPL. Raina said that Shaw is working to improve his fitness, adding that the young batter has achieved a lot early in his career.

“Definitely. Hona bhi chahiye because I think he achieved a lot in a very short time and now is now realising it (what went wrong). He is working on his fitness. He is a hard-working boy, and I wish him really, really well. I hope he does well for the team. He is a very talented player," Raina said.

Raina also named Ishan Kishan as the most underrated batter in current cricket. Kishan has represented India in two Tests, 27 ODIs, and 32 T20Is, with his last appearance coming against Australia in Guwahati on November 28, 2023.

“Ishan Kishan. He is a very, very strong player. He has done really well. Vo jab aur acha karega… uske paas bade tagde shots hai."

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