Suresh Raina’s International career in numbers

Suresh Raina, on Saturday, followed MS Dhoni’s route and announced his retirement from International cricket almost two years after his last appearance at this level. Suresh Raina took a big decision of calling off his chances in playing in Indian jersey, three months before turning 34, the age at which many still be hopeful about their International debut only. Raina, through his 13-year International career, played crucial innings including a couple of them in the knockouts of India’s victorious 2011 campaign.

Here we look at some of the major stats and numbers from Suresh Raina’s International career:

1 – Suresh Raina became the first Indian to score a century in T20I format when he struck 101 against South Africa in the 2010 edition of WT20. Raina’s hundred is still the only ton by an Indian in Men’s T20 World Cups.

1 – Raina became the first Indian to complete the treble of scoring centuries in all three formats of International cricket when he smashed a hundred on Test debut. With that knock, the southpaw also became the first player in International cricket with a century in all three formats while not opening innings.

3 – Raina batted at No.3 when he scored his maiden T20I hundred. It was the first-ever century recorded in T20I cricket while not opening the batting. Only a couple of days later, Deandra Dottin smashed the first-ever Women’s T20I century while batting at No.6 in the WT20.

5-0 – Raina is one of the five players and the only Indian to hit five or more sixes in an ODI inning without hitting a four. He struck five sixes during his unbeaten 18-ball 38 against New Zealand in the 2009 Christchurch ODI.

7 – Suresh Raina has scored all his seven International centuries outside India only. Only Shai Hope (11) and Chris Broad (7) have scored seven or more centuries in Men’s International cricket with all of them coming outside home only. (This list excludes players of Pakistan and Afghanistan who played most home matches in UAE and scored 100s there.)

19y 124d – Raina was 19 years and 124 days old when he smashed an unbeaten 81 against England which was his maiden ODI fifty. Only Sachin Tendulkar (17y 225d) and Yuvraj Singh (18y 300d) were younger than Raina by the time of their maiden ODI fifty for India Men’s team.

23y 182d – Suresh Raina led India for the first time during an ODI at the age of 23 years and 182 days. He is the 2nd youngest to lead India Men’s ODI team after Sachin Tendulkar (23y 126d). In fact, Raina is the 3rd youngest Indian to lead in Men’s International cricket after MAK Pataudi (21y 77d) and Sachin Tendulkar (23y 126d).

23y 197d – Raina became the T20I captain at the age of 23 years and 197 days which makes him the youngest to lead India Men’s T20I team.

66 – Suresh Raina’s maiden ODI century came against Hong Kong during the 2008 Asia Cup. Raina reached his hundred in only 66 balls; the fastest maiden ODI century by an Indian. Before Raina, the record was on the name of Virender Sehwag who got a century in only 69 balls during the Tri-series in 2001 in Sri Lanka. Raina’s 66-ball ton was also the then 2nd fastest ODI century by an Indian.

106 – Raina scored 106 while batting at No.6 position against Sri Lanka during the 2010 Tri-series final in Bangladesh. It is till date one of the two centuries coming in ODI finals by No.6 or a batsman of lower position. Ricardo Powell smashed 124 from only 93 balls to help West Indies win the 1999 Coca-Cola Singapore Challenge Final against India.