The stylish left-handed batter Suresh Raina is remembered for his elegant inside-out shots and aggressive batting style. An attacking player with a flair for big hits, Raina was also an electric fielder in the circle.
While he shone in limited-overs cricket, his Test career was comparatively modest.
Raina scored a century on Test debut but truly made his mark in ODIs and T20Is. He is fondly known as ‘Mr. IPL’, and dominated the Indian Premier League (IPL) with his aggressive and stylish gameplay. In international cricket, he scored 768 runs in 31 Test innings, 5,615 runs in 194 ODIs, and 1,605 runs in 66 T20Is. In the IPL, Raina played 205 matches, scoring 5,528 runs, and held the title of the league’s highest run-scorer for several years.
When he made his ODI debut in 2005, a new generation of Indian cricketers also entered the scene. Here, let us take a look at five players who debuted alongside Raina and where they are now.
Here are 5 Indian players who debuted with Suresh Raina and where they are now
Robin Uthappa
The top-order batter Robin Uthappa made his ODI debut for India in 2006 against England. A hard-hitting batter with an array of shots, Uthappa first impressed during the 2005 Challenger Trophy. He was part of India’s squad for the 2007 T20 World Cup but could not make a significant impact. However, he is remembered for his crucial hit at the stumps in the Bowl Out against Pakistan.
He shone in domestic cricket and the IPL, particularly during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In international cricket, Uthappa played 42 ODI innings, scoring 934 runs, and 12 T20I innings for 249 runs. In the IPL, he featured in 197 matches across six franchises, amassing 4,952 runs. He is currently an expert commentator and also runs a YouTube channel, sharing his honest opinions and analysis on games.
Munaf Patel
Munaf Patel made his Test debut in 2006 against England, and received his ODI debut the following month. Known for his disciplined bowling in the nets, Patel gradually rose through the ranks. However, injuries hampered his career.
On Test debut, he impressed with figures of 7 for 97. He was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad and ended as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. In total, he claimed 35 Test wickets, 86 ODI wickets, and 4 T20I wickets.
MS Dhoni
Former captain MS Dhoni debuted in ODIs and initially struggled but soon came to prominence with innings of 148 and 183 not out within his first year. Dhoni led India to victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy, breaking several records along the way.
In Tests, he scored 4,876 runs in 144 innings, in ODIs, 10,773 runs in 297 innings, and in T20Is, 1,617 runs in 42 innings. At 44 years old, Dhoni continues to play in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), guiding the team to five titles and remaining a key figure in the upcoming season.
Dinesh Karthik
The wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik made his ODI debut in 2004 against England at Lord’s, where he stumped Michael Vaughan for his first international dismissal. With Dhoni established as India’s primary wicketkeeper, Karthik’s opportunities were limited at the international level.
However, he excelled in domestic cricket, scoring 9,620 First-Class runs. In Tests, he scored 1,025 runs in 42 innings, in ODIs, 1,752 runs in 79 innings, and in T20Is, 686 runs in 48 innings. Karthik is currently a part-time commentator and recently played for Paarl Royals in the SA20 league.
RP Singh
The left-arm pacer RP Singh made his ODI debut in 2005 against Zimbabwe. He had first made headlines in the 2004 Under-19 World Cup and impressed with a match-winning performance against Australia in Perth. Singh was capable of swinging the new ball both ways and reversing the old ball effectively.
However, inconsistency limited his international career. In 25 Test innings, he took 40 wickets; in 57 ODI innings, 69 wickets; and in nine T20Is, 15 wickets. He now occasionally contributes as a cricket commentator, sharing insights about the game.