Suresh Raina becomes first cricketer to score 5000 IPL runs

Raina needed just 15 runs to achieve this milestone in the opening clash of the season and he did so in a low-scoring encounter at the Chepauk.

Chennai Super Kings star Suresh Raina scripted history as he became the first cricketer in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to complete 5000 runs during the first match of the season against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.

File image of CSK cricketer Suresh Raina. (AFP)

Raina needed just 15 runs to achieve this milestone in the opening clash of the season and he did so in a low-scoring encounter at Chepauk. Raina was dismissed for 19 in the chase but not before etching his name in history books.

The southpaw also extended his lead in the top of the list for most runs scored in the cash-rich league. Suresh Raina leads the way with Virat Kohli at the second spot. Mumbai Indians’ skipper Rohit Sharma completes the illustrious top three list.

Suresh Raina: 5004

Virat Kohli: 4954

Rohit Sharma: 4493

India’s Harbhajan Singh led an inspired spin attack to help Chennai Super Kings open the 2019 Indian Premier League season with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.

Harbhajan and South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed three wickets each to dismiss Royal Challengers for a paltry 70, a total the defending champions achieved with 14 balls to spare in Chennai.

“It was a very good bowling effort by him (Harbhajan) to give us a kind of start that was very well capitalised by the other spinners,” Dhoni said after the win.

“The wicket definitely needs to be much better, even with dew it was spinning big, other teams have good spinners as well and this isn’t the pitch we are looking forward to,” Dhoni said of the pitch at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.

(With inputs from agencies)