Suresh Raina: India's Most Responsible Pair of Hands
Biography
Suresh Raina, popularly known as the right hand to the Captain of Indian Cricket Mahendra Singh Dhoni needs no introduction. He is an eminent player in the world of cricket. Raina made a significant contribution, enabling his team win a lot of matches and tournaments. His amazing and stupendous contribution to the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings has made it a top team in various seasons of Indian Premier League.
Childhood and Early Life
Suresh raina was born to Tirlokchand Raina, and Parvesh Raina in Muradnagar, Gaziabad, UP on 27th November 1986. His father worked for the Ordnance factory in Muradnagar. He has youngest of five siblings, he has 3 older brothers, Dinesh, Naresh, and Muktesh, and an older sister Renu. Ethnically, he belongs to a Pandit family from Jammu and Kashmir.
Born and raised in a Military background, Raina maintains a disciplined life; regular practice and rigorous training are his sources of all the confidence and the power to hit invincible shots on the ground.
Education
It was in the year 2000 when Suresh Raina decided to play cricket; he moved to a to Lucknow, to attend the specialist government Sports College and decided to dedicate a lot of time to the game. Raina became the Captain for U-16 Cricket team by 2002 and came to be spotted by the Indian selectors.
Early Career
He was selected to play for the Indian Under - 19 Cricket team in its tour of England at the age of 15. he didn't disappoint, he scored two half centuries in the test matches and made sure that his future place in the Indian Cricket team was a little more solidified.
He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh in February 2003, and the same year he toured Pakistan for U-19 Asian ODI Championship with the under 19 team. The very next year, in 2004 U-19 World Cup, he showed off what he was made off when he scored three half-centuries, including a 90 scored off only 38 balls.
He was then awarded a Border-Gavaskar scholarship to train at the Australian Cricket Academy and in early 2005, he made his first-class limited overs debut, and scored 645 runs that season at an average of 53.75. He made his spectacular debut in ODIs against Sri Lanka in 2005. His amazing shot selection technique and his fast scoring ability fetched him a permanent place in the team.
Career
In 2010, South Africa was touring India and Suresh raina was in the 15 man squad. However, when the playing eleven were announced, it was a surprise to not see his name the list. However, later in the ear, while India toured Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, most of the first team players were rested and so he got a chance to show off what he was made of.
Given that he was the third captain of the team, he was given the responsibility as both the captain, Dhoni, and the vice-captain, Shewag was rested for the matches. Although, he lost the first ever match he captained, he had made a substantial mark by the end of the stint. Virat Kohli and Ashwin were players that debuted under his captaincy.
In the 2011 World Cup, Suresh Raina had to sit through the first half of the tournament as Dhoni preferred the more experienced Yosuf Pathan over Raina. However, owing to an Injury to Shewag, he got a chance to show off his skills and sneaked in a couple of spectacular run chases with Yuvraj Singh. It led him to be a more prominent position where he oculd actualy help India win the ICC World Cup 2011.
Indian Premier League ( IPL) Career
Suresh Raina was one of the first signings of Chennai Super Kings, he was paid $5 Million for the first three years of the Tournament. He has always been a strong player; he has leveraged Indian team with amazing support in times of turmoil on the ground.He also became the first ever player in the world to play 100 matches in Indian Premier League and the first ever player to score a hundred in the same series.
Since the Banning of the Chennai Super Kings for two years, Raina has signed up for the new IPL team, Gujrat Lions and his the Captain of the team now. His IPL history and statistics speak for themselves, a few of his achievements are listed below.
Milestones
Raina is not only known for his fast scoring capability. MS Dhoni, the coolest Indian captain also refers to him as the safest hand in the team. He had proved his mettle by taking some mind blowing and impossible catches on the field in both IPL and international matches.
" At the international level, one has to keep working hard and develop new skills. International cricket is all about improving yourself." - Suresh Raina
He is also an off break bowler and fills in the place for the third spinner baller in the team after Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Suresh Raina’s performance with the ball has helped team acquire some crucial wickets in the middle.
Achievements
- He is the third batsman in the world to hit a T20I century.
- He is the first Indian batsman to score centuries in all the three formats of the game.
- He Scored a test century on debut.
- He is the only Indian to score centuries in both T20I and ODI World Cup.s
- He is the First Indian player to score 6000 and more runs in Twenty20 career.
- He is the First Player to score 3000 runs in the IPL.
- He holds the record of most no.of catches (52) in the IPL.
- He was the second world and first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in the IPL.
- He is the first and only player to have scored over 400 runs in 7 IPL seasons.
Family and Personal Life
As a big fan of Rahul Dravid, Raina lent his voice tby writing an article that featured in the 2012 book Rahul Dravid: Timeless Steel.
Suresh Raina married Priyanka Chaudhary on April 3, 2015 at the Leela Palace in New Delhi.
Suresh Raina is somewhat of a singer too, it seems. He has lent his voice to the soundtrack of the film Meeruthiya Gangster.
Awards
- 2011
-
CEAT T20 International Player of the Year
Know More
Raina's terrfic work of fielding
- Full Name :
- Suresh Kumar Raina
- Zodiac Sign :
- Sagittarius
- Birth Place :
- Uttar Pradesh
- Education :
- Australian Cricket Academy,
University of Hasanganj Lucknow
- Occupation :
- Cricketer
- Industry :
- Sports
- Networth :
- $4.3 Million
