IPL Players' draft: Is Suresh Raina a better first pick than MS Dhoni?

New Delhi: Some of the best Indian Premier League stars will be up for grabs at the IPL Players' draft on December 15.

Sanjeev Goenka's New Rising consortium has a chance to pick the first player in the draft.

Most experts believe MS Dhoni will be the first choice for the new IPL franchise considering his impeccable record in the cash-rich league.

There is no denying that brand Mahi is still a hit with the fans. But is he as effective on the field as he once was?

Over the last one year, there has been a decline in Dhoni's form in ODIs as well as T20s.

Since the teams will select players for a two-year period, 34-year-old Dhoni's age too could be play on the minds of team owners.

In case they decide against Dhoni as first pick, a younger Suresh Raina, considered IPL's best batsman, could be the ideal first choice for Pune.

The 29-year-old has been a vital cog in CSK sides right from 2008.

In 132 IPL matches, Raina has scored 3699, with 25 fifties and 1 ton, at an average of 34.25. The left-hander is an incredible athlete and has taken 74 catches and picked up 24 wickets.

Dhoni on the other hand has has scored 2987 runs, with 15 fifties and no tons, at an average of 39.30 in 129 IPL matches. The wicket-keeper batsman has 56 catches and 23 stumpings to his credit.

Raina is supremely fit and hasn't missed a single IPL match till date.