Name Hindi: सुरेश रैना / Gender Man
Suresh Raina: A Resilient Cricketer
Indian cricket’s greatest left-handed batsman, Suresh Raina, has made countless significant contributions to the sport. Known for his aggressive and flamboyant stroke-play, Raina’s game is characterized by passion, determination, and always putting the team first. His remarkable fielding abilities have also rendered him an indispensable asset on the playing field.
Early Life and Career
Born on 27th November 1986 in Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Raina took up cricket at a very young age. Demonstrating immense promise from early on, he was selected for the Sports College Lucknow and later admitted into the National Cricket Academy Bangalore.
- In July 2005, Raina made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka
- In 2010, he played his first Test match against the same country
- Raina was part of India’s glorious victory in the World Cup of 2011.
A Stellar IPL Career with Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed some phenomenal performances from Raina as part of the Chennai Super Kings squad. He became one of CSK’s stalwarts since its inception in 2008 and significantly contributed to the team’s victories throughout various seasons.
- Raina showed exemplary performance during CSK’s championship runs in 2010 and 2011 ICC Champions League.
- He stayed consistent over several seasons becoming the first player to cross 5000 runs in IPL.
Raina’s Contributions to Indian Cricket
One of Raina’s most laudable contributions was his unbeaten innings in the quarter-finals of ICC World Cup 2011 against Australia, which helped India to progress to semi-final. His phenomenal performances continued to support team India in many critical games and series.
- In August 2021, he announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on social media platform Instagram.
- Despite retiring at a relatively young age (below 35), he had an exemplary career with numerous accolades and records to his name.
Off the Field: Personal Life, Philanthropy and More
Raina married Priyanka Chaudhary in April 2015 and has two children—a daughter named Gracia and son Rio. Beyond cricket, Raina actively involves himself with numerous philanthropic activities through ‘Gracia Raina Foundation’, working primarily towards the empowerment of underprivileged women and adolescents.
To summarize, Suresh Raina is not just a cricketing legend but also an inspiration off-field for his philanthropic work. Here’s honoring this talented individual’s invaluable contribution to Indian cricket!
