Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has delivered a captivating verdict on the world’s premier T20 batting expertise, inserting a South African powerhouse on the summit of his fastidiously curated record. Talking on Shubhankar Mishra‘s podcast, Raina named this star batter as the present greatest T20 batter globally, with two Indian batting tremendous stars finishing his prime three.
Suresh Raina reveals the non-Indian batter within the High 3 record
Raina’s choice of star striker Heinrich Klaasen because the world’s primary T20 batter displays the South African’s extraordinary influence on the format. The previous Chennai Tremendous Kings stalwart particularly highlighted Klaasen’s ‘uncommon six-hitting means’ because the distinguishing issue that units him aside from his contemporaries. This evaluation features credence when inspecting Klaasen’s current performances, notably his devastating shows for SunRisers Hyderabad within the IPL.
Klaasen’s credentials as a T20 destroyer are simple. In IPL 2025, he smashed a record-breaking 105 off simply 39 balls towards Kolkata Knight Riders, that includes 9 sixes and 7 boundaries. His total IPL statistics paint the image of a constant match-winner: 1,480 runs throughout 49 matches at a powerful strike price of 169.72, together with two centuries and 7 half-centuries. The South African’s means to speed up innings and discover boundaries at will has made him probably the most sought-after T20 gamers globally.
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Raina discloses two Indian names finishing the trinity
Raina’s choice of Abhishek Sharma in second place displays the younger left-hander’s meteoric rise in worldwide cricket. The 24-year-old has established himself as a fearless opener with performances which have redefined aggressive batting for India. His record-breaking 135 off 54 balls towards England at Wankhede Stadium in February 2025 stands as the best particular person rating by an Indian in T20Is, that includes an astonishing 13 sixes.
Abhishek’s journey from home cricket to worldwide stardom has been outstanding. He achieved his maiden T20I century towards Zimbabwe in simply 47 balls, and adopted it up with one other hundred towards England. His IPL performances for SunRisers Hyderabad, the place he kinds a formidable opening partnership with Travis Head, have been equally spectacular, sustaining a strike price of over 200. The teenager’s means to dominate powerplay overs and set the tone for giant totals has made him indispensable to India’s T20 setup.
“Abhishek Sharma hit 100 towards England at Wankhede. Suryakumar Yadav has so many pictures in his arsenal,” Raina mentioned through the podcast.
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, rounds out Raina’s prime three choice. Regardless of current struggles with the bat, SKY’s total file speaks volumes about his high quality. Throughout 83 T20Is, he has amassed 2,598 runs at a blistering strike price of 167.07. His captaincy file has been equally spectacular, main India to 17 victories in 22 matches for a win share of 79.54%. Suryakumar’s modern shot-making and talent to seek out boundaries from seemingly not possible conditions have earned him the nickname “Mr. 360.”
Raina’s alternatives replicate the present state of T20 cricket, the place explosive batting and the power to attain rapidly have grow to be paramount. Whereas Klaasen’s worldwide retirement creates a void for South Africa, with younger Tristan Stubbs anticipated to fill the hole, his legacy as a T20 destroyer stays intact. For India, the emergence of Abhishek alongside the continued management of Suryakumar supplies a robust basis as they put together for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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