Raina was on his way to the fastest hundred but he got run-out.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) top-order batsman Suresh Raina has played numerous match-winning innings for his franchise. But the one which was no less than a storm, although it ended up on losing side, came against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in an important match.
It was the second qualifier between CSK and KXIP in IPL 2014 when Raina scored a 25-ball 87, leaving the opposition stunned.
ALSO READ: Dhoni really backed Raina during 2011 World Cup, says Yuvraj Singh
Talking about the innings with his then-teammate R Ashwin on Instagram live, Raina said it was Virender Sehwag's innings which gave him the belief to play such a knock. Sehwag had scored 122 off 58 balls.
“Do you remember that video game-like match against Kings XI Punjab in Mumbai? We were chasing somewhere around 230 in the match. You hit everything for either four or six in the first few overs," asked Ashwin.
Out of 87 runs, 84 came from boundaries for Raina as he hit 12 fours and 6 sixes. “I think when I saw Viru bhai hitting I thought the wicket is definitely very good to bat on. After KXIP innings when we were going back into the dressing room, I kept telling myself to be calm,” Raina told Ashwin.
Chasing 227, CSK were restricted to 202/7 in 20 overs. It was Raina's dismissal which changed the game. CSK were 100/2 after just 6 overs.
“I was in a different zone in that match because I saw Viru bhai hitting from all the angles.. from slip, from point, from the covers. After I saw him hitting with the straight bat, I told myself I will also use the same approach.
“Calmness made me believe we can chase the score. I think me and MS believed we could do it. I was very happy when almost every ball came out of the middle of the bat,” he added.