Suresh Raina is a former Indian all-rounder who played many match-winning knocks for the country. Raina was the first Indian batsman to smash a century in all three formats of international cricket. Also, he was a part of the squad that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Many fans would remember that Suresh Raina even got an opportunity to captain the Indian cricket team when MS Dhoni was not playing. He captained the nation in 12 ODIs and three T20Is. While he maintained a 100% win record in the shortest format of the game, his record as ODI captain was 6-5. His last match as the Indian cricket team captain ended with no result against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
In this listicle today, we will have a look at the six popular Indian players who made their international debut in one of the formats under Suresh Raina’s leadership.
1. Virat Kohli made his T20I debut under Suresh Raina
Not many fans would know that the current Indian cricket team captain in all formats of international cricket, Virat Kohli, started his career in the shortest format of the game under the captaincy of former Indian all-rounder Suresh Raina. Kohli made his T20I debut in 2010.
It was in a match against the Zimbabwean cricket team. Kohli came out to bat at number five and remained unbeaten on 26* as India defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets.
2. Ravichandran Ashwin (T20I)
Ravichandran Ashwin also made his T20I debut in the same match as Virat Kohli. Ashwin bowled an economical spell of 1/22 in his four overs.
The right-arm off-spinner picked up the wicket of opposition wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu. Ashwin did not get a chance to bat in the match.
3. Amit Mishra (T20I)
Amit Mishra made his ODI debut in the year 2003. But he did not get a place in the Indian T20I team before the 2010 tour of Zimbabwe.
In the 2nd T20I of that series, Mishra made his T20I debut. Like Ashwin, he bowled an economical spell. His figures were 1/21, where he took the wicket of Brendan Taylor.
4. Ashok Dinda made his ODI debut under Suresh Raina
Former Indian fast bowler Ashok Dinda made his ODI debut under Raina’s captaincy in 2010. It was in a tri-series match against Zimbabwe.
Dinda failed to take a single wicket and conceded 49 runs in his 7.2 overs. India lost that match against the Zimbabwean team by six wickets.
5. Umesh Yadav
Another fast bowler who made his ODI debut in that match was Umesh Yadav. The right-arm fast bowler bowled eight overs in that match.
Like Ashok Dinda, Umesh remained wicketless. Zimbabwe chased a 286-run target against India despite a century from Rohit Sharma in the first innings.
6. Vinay Kumar made his ODI debut under Suresh Raina
Vinay Kumar was another Indian fast bowler who made his debut under Suresh Raina against Zimbabwe. Kumar bowled eight overs in that match.
Unlike Dinda and Umesh Yadav, Kumar accounted for two wickets. He took the wickets of Brendan Taylor and Charles Coventry in the match.
