India Today : Feb 25, 2019, 02:16 PM
Suresh Raina joined an elite list of batsmen, which includes Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum among others, who have scored more than 8,000 runs in T20 cricket. Raina has scored 8001 runs from 300 matches, 178 runs more than India captain Virat Kohli. Became the 2nd Indian after MS Dhoni to play 300 T20 matches. Raina also became second India cricketer to have played 300 T20 matches. Raina will hope for World Cup, 2019.Raina also became the second India cricketer to have played 300 T20 matches. Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni top the list with 301 matches while India's limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma is third with 299 matches so far.Only a few days ago, Raina joined Rohit Sharma in the list of Indian batsmen with 300 sixes in T20 cricket. Sharma, who has hit 326 sixes in 299 matches.Raina has been in ordinary form in the ongoing domestic T20 tournament. From four matches, the 32-year-old has managed just 70 runs, which includes an unbeaten half-century in Uttar Pradesh's win over Hyderabad last week. Despite their senior pro's dip in form, Uttar Pradesh are on top of the Group E table with three wins from four matches.Raina will turn up for CSK in the 12th edition of Indian Premier League, starting March 23 in Chennai. Defending champions CSK will face Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season-opener.Meanwhile, Raina hinted he hasn't given up hopes of making the India squad at the 2019 World Cup, starting May 30 in England and Wales. "I have always given my best to the team I play for, be it national, domestic or IPL. And, I'll continue to do so during any upcoming matches too, irrespective of the circumstance. But yes, who wouldn't want to lift the World Cup twice," Raina had told Times Now.