Here is why Suresh Raina is one of the best T20 players in the World: A score of a century is definitely a landmark for any batsman in any format of the game. The concerned player and the supporters get excited on such an achievement, more so, if it comes on a winning cause.
However, scoring a century in the T20 format calls for a great deal of talent in ‘staying put’ in the middle and indulging in power hitting. A century in an important competition like World Cup is all the more special.
Since the inaugural tournament of ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, till the last 2014 episode in Bangladesh, there have been six centuries recorded in this format.
The list is:
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date | Scorecard | |
| CH Gayle | 117 | 57 | 7 | 10 | 205.26 | West Indies | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 11 Sep 2007 | T20I # 20 | |
| SK Raina | 101 | 60 | 9 | 5 | 168.33 | India | v South Africa | Gros Islet | 2 May 2010 | T20I # 155 | |
| DPMD Jayawardene | 100 | 64 | 10 | 4 | 156.25 | Sri Lanka | v Zimbabwe | Providence | 3 May 2010 | T20I # 157 | |
| BB McCullum | 123 | 58 | 11 | 7 | 212.06 | New Zealand | v Bangladesh | Pallekele | 21 Sep 2012 | T20I # 267 | |
| AD Hales | 116* | 64 | 11 | 6 | 181.25 | England | v Sri Lanka | Chittagong | 27 Mar 2014 | T20I # 387 | |
| Ahmed Shehzad | 111* | 62 | 10 | 5 | 179.03 | Pakistan | v Bangladesh | Dhaka | 30 Mar 2014 | T20I # 392 |
From the above list it is seen that Suresh Raina is the lone Indian batsman to achieve this feat.
Here is how it came about.
The 5th match of the 2010 edition of the tournament was played between two teams in Group C. India took on South Africa at Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on 2nd May, 2010.
South Africa won the toss and put India in to bat.
Opening the innings with Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay, India started off very badly losing Vijay with just 4 runs on the board in the very second delivery of the innings. Vijay was out for a DUCK.
Suresh Raina walked to join Dinesh Karthik and the two added 28 more runs when Dinesh Karthik departed after scoring 16 runs off 17 deliveries. India, at that8 stage had put on 32 runs for the loss of 2 wickets.
In walked the other left-hander, Yuvraj Singh to join Raina in the middle. The duo stayed together to put up 120 runs on the board in 15.5 overs. The partnership was worth 88 runs in 10.2 overs.
Yuvraj left after scoring 37 runs off just 30 deliveries with 3 fours and 2 huge sixes.
Raina continued to hold on to one end while Yusuf Pathan joined him in the middle. He did not last long and departed after putting 11 runs in just 7 deliveries. India at this stage was on 163 / 4 in 18.3 overs.
With just 9 deliveries left in the innings, the skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Raina.
After being together for the next seven deliveries and adding 15 more runs to the tally, Suresh Raina fell to a catch taken by AB de Villiers off the bowling of Albie Morkel.
Raina put up a well made 101 runs with 9 fours and 5 sixes, being at the crease for 85 minutes, facing just 60 deliveries at 168.33 strike rate.
India eventually ended their quota of 20 overs, putting up 186 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
Rory Kelinveldt was the most successful bowler for South Africa claiming 2 wickets giving away 48 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
South Africa replied with 172 runs for the loss 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs with Jacques Kallis making the maximum contribution of 73 runs with 3 fours and equal number of sixes, facing 54 deliveries.
For India, Yusuf Pathan was the most successful bowler taking 2 wickets, giving away 41 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
India went on to win the match by 14 runs.
Raina ranks second in the list of centurions in T20 World Cup after the mighty Chris Gayle who has scored 117 runs with 7 fours and 10 sixes off 57 deliveries against South Africa in the 2007 (inaugural) edition of the tournament at Johannesburg. Gayle had a whooping 205.26 strike rate.