So Badly Wanted To Make It To Finals, Suresh Raina Recalls His Epic 25-ball 87 vs KXIP In IPL 2014
Published - 31 May 2020, 12:30 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 11:00 AM
One of the finest knocks of all time in Indian Premier League (IPL) came in the 2014 Qualifier between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab when Suresh Raina nearly blew away the Punjab-based outfit. The game had looked all but over for the Super Kings when a stunning century from the legendary Virender Sehwag saw the Kings XI post a mammoth total of 226 for 6.
The game further drifted away from the Super Kings when Faf du Plessis departed early. But Suresh Raina turned the game on its head with a scintillating knock before a run-out ended his knock and his team’s journey in the tournament. The left-handed batsman had played a majestic knock of 87 runs from just 25 balls.
He took the bowlers to the cleaners right from the word go as he raced to the second-fastest fifty in IPL in just 16 balls. The southpaw hit 12 fours and six sixes in his innings that saw his side reach the 100-run mark in just six overs. But before Suresh Raina could inflict any further damage, he was run out by George Bailey.
On Saturday, he recalled that iconic innings when the Super Kings shared a throwback picture of his run-out from that epic game. Sharing that post, Suresh Raina conceded that the knock remains very special for him and also wrote that he was desperate to take his side over the line.
“Only thing was running through my mind was not to give up & make it through. So badly wanted to make it to the finals. It will always remain a very special knock for me,” wrote Suresh Raina.
Only thing was running through my mind was not to give up & make it through. So badly wanted to make it to the finals. It will always remain a very special knock for me. #WhistlePodu https://t.co/iiuBfOk5wE
— Suresh Raina?? (@ImRaina) May 30, 2020
Kings XI Punjab, meanwhile, made it to their first IPL final but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in the title-decider.
