Suresh Raina

Captain • Left-handed Batsman

Jersey Number
48
International Debut
2005
Matches Played
500+
Career Runs
13,000+

Full Name: Suresh Raina

Nickname: Sonu

Date of Birth: November 27, 1986

Place of Birth: Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Age: 38 Years

Nationality: Indian

Role: Batsman

Batting Style: Left-Handed Bat

Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak

Current Team(s): India, Chennai Super Kings, Uttar Pradesh

Suresh Raina was born on November 27, 1986, in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh. He is one of the most dynamic left-handed batsmen and an excellent fielder. Raina showed an early passion for cricket and moved to Lucknow to pursue it. He trained at the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College at a very young age. His aggressive style and dedication made him stand out at the junior level. This led to him being handed an early debut for India in 2005. Raina quickly became a vital part of India’s middle order across formats. Raina is known for his match-winning knocks and being electric in the field. Raina played a key role in India’s 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning campaigns. He was also a key part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in the IPL. Fans affectionately called him “Mr. IPL” for his fearless batting and fielding abilities in the IPL. He is one of the most beloved Indian cricketers.

International Debut
Test: Sri Lanka vs India at Colombo (SSC) – July 26 – 30, 2010
ODI: Sri Lanka vs India at Dambulla – July 30, 2005
T20I: South Africa vs India at Johannesburg – December 01, 2006
IPL Debut
KXIP vs CSK at Mohali – April 19, 2008
Domestic Teams:
Uttar Pradesh
Format Matches Runs Average 100s/50s Wickets Best Bowling Catches
Test 18 768 26.48 1/7 13 2/1 23
ODI 226 5615 35.31 5/36 36 3/34 102
T20I 78 1605 29.18 1/5 13 2/6 42
IPL 205 5528 32.51 1/39 25 2/0 109
Key Batting Records & Milestones
  • Suresh Raina made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2005.
  • He was the first Indian to score a century across all three formats (Test, ODI, and T20I) of the game.
  • He is among the top run scorers in IPL history with over 5,500 runs.
  • He was the third batsman in the world and the first Indian to score a century in T20Is.
  • Raina also scored a century on his test debut (120 against Sri Lanka).
  • He was the first cricketer to reach 5,000 runs in IPL.
  • He is the first and only player to have scored over 400 runs in seven consecutive IPL seasons (2008-2014).
  • He holds the record for most catches (109) in the history of IPL.
ICC Awards
  • Raina was part of the ICC ODI Team of the Year in 2011.
  • Raina won multiple Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards for India across formats.
Major Tournament Wins
  • He played a key role in India’s 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup-winning campaign.
  • He was also the ICC Champions Trophy winner in 2013.
  • He was part of the Asia Cup 2016 and ICC T20 World Cup semi-finalist team (2016).
  • He was part of the Chennai Super Kings when they won the title in 2010, 2011, and 2018.
  • He was also part of the Chennai Super Kings squad when they won the Champions League T20 trophy in 2010 and 2014.
Captaincy Records
  • Raina captained India in 12 matches across formats, leading to several victories.
  • He served as a stand-in captain for India in the ODI and T20I series.
  • He also led the Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016 and 2017.
Off-Field Honors
  • He was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Nomination in 2013.
  • BCCI awarded him the Best Fielder Award multiple times.
  • He was honored by the Uttar Pradesh Government for his contribution to Indian Cricket.
  • He continues to inspire millions of kids through coaching, academics, and youth programs across India who want to become cricketers.

Suresh Raina was known for his aggressive left-handed batting and being exceptional on the field. He was a natural stroke maker and excelled in the middle order. He used to play well against every type of bowling, especially spin. Raina was known for his quick footwork and precision in dominating bowlers. The lofted inside-out drive over extra cover and the flick over midwicket were his signature shots. Raina was a handy bowler as well, who could chip in with a few overs. He often used to break partnerships with his clever variations. He is a mentally strong character who thrived in high-pressure situations, showing resilience and positivity. He was one of India’s most dependable and energetic cricketers, who was fearless in his approach and quick between the wickets.

Suresh Raina was born on November 27, 1986, in Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh. His father’s name is Tirlokchand Raina, who worked with the Ordnance Factory, and Parvesh Raina, his mother, is a homemaker. Suresh attended Guru Gobind Singh Sports College in Lucknow, where his cricketing journey started. Suresh Raina is married to Priyanka Chaudhary Raina, and they have two children: a daughter, Gracia, and a son, Rio. Suresh is an avid music listener who also enjoys travelling. He is also a fitness buff who keeps himself fit even after retiring from cricket. Apart from cricket, he is actively involved in charity through the Gracia Raina Foundation, which supports women’s and children’s welfare.

Brand Endorsements

Suresh Raina has endorsed a diverse portfolio of brands in sports, technology, and travel sectors. He has worked with leading brands like BharatPe, Pepsi, Fantain, 9stacks, Colgate, WTF Sports, Asics, Intex, Jio, and more.

There is also a controversial association with Raina. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets (mutual fund investments) linked to Raina in a case related to the alleged illegal offshore betting platform, 1xBet.

Charity Work

Suresh Raina is quite active in philanthropy through his foundation, Gracia Raina Foundation.

  • Along with his wife, he co-founded the Gracia Raina Foundation that focuses on empowering women during the reproductive phase. They also promote maternal and child wellness.
  • He was also involved in the Swachh Bharat initiatives. He was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 as an ambassador for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
  • He also worked on many other projects to support the community.
Social Media Influence

Suresh has a massive following on social media and possesses significant influence. He has leveraged his “Chinna Thala” status from his Chennai Super Kings days to make a kingdom for himself on social media platforms.

  • His fan following and relatable image make him a dream for brands.
  • He often uses his platforms to share motivational content, fitness updates, and some cricket insights. Sometimes, he posts some content with his family as well.
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Favourite Cricketer: Rahul Dravid

Favourite Stadium: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Pre-game Rituals: Standing for the National Anthem

Most Memorable Innings: 101 vs South Africa (2010 T20 World Cup, St Lucia)

Instagram: @sureshraina3

Twitter: @ImRaina

Facebook: @SureshKumaRainaOfficial