Suresh Raina Lists His Top Three T20 Batters
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina recently shared his favorite T20 batters during a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra. Raina’s top choices include one South African and two Indian players.
Raina named Heinrich Klaasen as the best T20 batter right now, placing Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav right behind him. He praised Klaasen for his impressive ability to hit sixes, which makes him stand out in the game.
“Abhishek Sharma scored a hundred against England at Wankhede. Suryakumar Yadav has a wide range of shots in his game,” said Raina during the discussion.
In recent years, Klaasen has made a name for himself as one of the most formidable T20 players. He played a crucial role in helping South Africa reach the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Additionally, he has been a vital player for the SunRisers Hyderabad, contributing to one of the most explosive batting teams in T20 cricket.
Raina also highlighted his SRH teammate, Abhishek Sharma, mentioning his fearless approach as an opener in India’s T20 setup. Despite being early in his international career, Abhishek has already scored two T20I centuries—one against Zimbabwe and another against England. In the IPL, he has developed a strong opening partnership with Travis Head.
While Suryakumar and Abhishek are key players for India, Klaasen surprised fans when he announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this year. The 33-year-old shared his decision on social media, expressing a desire to spend more time with his family.
Klaasen’s retirement came shortly after he played in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where South Africa faced New Zealand in the semi-finals. Known for his powerful hitting and calmness in crucial moments, Klaasen finished his international career with 2,141 runs in ODIs and 1,000 runs in T20Is, leaving a notable mark in white-ball cricket.
As the cricketing world gears up for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav are expected to play vital roles in India’s batting lineup. Meanwhile, South Africa will be counting on young talent Tristan Stubbs to step up following Klaasen’s departure.
