Suresh Raina
Credits: BCCI

Chennai Super Kings talisman batsman Suresh Raina holds a key in the success of the franchise. The southpaw batsman is an integral part of the Chennai franchise since the inception of the IPL.

In fact, Suresh Raina is the leading run-getter in the IPL folklore. The Chennai Super Kings linchpin with the bat has scored 4953 runs in the tournament. Raina is currently five runs ahead of the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli who has scored 4948 runs.

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina. Photo by: Rahul Gulati /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

Furthermore, Chennai Super Kings is the most consistent team in the IPL history. The Men in Yellow have made the cut into the playoffs stages of the tournament on every occasion they have played in IPL. Thus, MS Dhoni-led team is successful in making their place into the final four of the competition on nine instances. Furthermore, Chennai had made their way into the final for the seventh time in this season

Meanwhile, Chennai didn’t partake in the 2016 and 2017 edition of the tourney.

Suresh Raina has scored a total of 209 runs in the six finals for the Chennai Super Kings.

Let’s take a look at the performance of Suresh Raina in the final of the tournament.

Suresh Raina had scored a quickfire 43 off just 30 balls in the inaugural edition final against Rajasthan Royals. Unfortunately, Chennai went on to lose that match.

Suresh Raina IPL 2018
Suresh Raina. Photo by: Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS for BCCI

Raina scored a fine 57 runs off just 35 balls in the 2010 season of the IPL. The southpaw batsman knock turned out to be match-winning as Men in Yellow won by 22 runs against Mumbai Indians. The number three batsman was awarded the Man of the match for his performance.

Raina scored only 8 runs off 5 balls in the 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore as the job was done by top order. However, Chennai won the match by 58 runs.

Suresh Raina clobbered 73 runs off just 38 balls in the 2012 final against Kolkata Knight Riders. However, Raina’s effort with the bat went in vain as Chennai ended up as runners-up.

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina. (Photo by Prashant Bhoot / IPL/ SPORTZPICS))

Raina was dismissed without troubling the scorers in the 2013 edition final against Mumbai Indians. Thus, Chennai went on to lose that final match by 23 runs to end up as the second-best team.

Suresh Raina scored 28 off just 19 balls in the final of 2015 season. Unfortunately, Chennai lost that match by 41 runs.

Cricket is my first love. I want to be a wordsmith. I want to weave magic with my words.